\jeff{krimmel}

You should read The Source by James A. Michener. Granted, Muslim/Christian/Jewish interactions don’t take up a large part of the novel, plus it’s a very long novel, but it’s a very good book. It’s historical fiction, and follows the history of a particular location in Israel from the beginnings of history through the modern day. At the appropriate portion of history, the book talks about how Muslims, Christians, and Jews originally lived side-by-side with no issues, because the Muslims viewed Christianity and Judaism as sister religions and because all three religions are descended at least partially from the same writings. Unfortunately, that time of peace was short-lived, because a different sect of Islam rose up that didn’t feel the same way toward Christians and Jews. Such a shame.

It’s interesting that all three religions are essentially the same with the exception of one thing: Jesus. All three differ in their views on Jesus. Jews either don’t believe that Jesus existed, or believe that he was just another rabbi and that there was nothing special about him. Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God. Muslims, as I understand it (I very well may be wrong), believe that Jesus was a prophet who was to prepare the way for Muhammad to deliver the true message of God.

So, all three religions are intimitely intertwined, and yet it is either surprising or inevitable that there has been so much strife between them.

Anyway, I’ve gotten off my original point, which was that you should read The Source. It says interesting things about the history of that region.

By Adam on Aug 2, 2005 at 2:06 am

It’s good to see there are believers somwhere who actually got the point.

By Dixie on Aug 2, 2005 at 9:49 am

I would be very surprised to hear people from these organizations saying “Religion just doesn’t matter”. I would guess it matters a great deal to many them. It may be unimportant to them what religion their colleagues practice, but I imagine for many of them, their own religious beliefs are central to their works.

That said, I completely agree, Jeff. It’s a terrible shame.

I personally do not consider it newsworthy that Christians and Muslims work together (I do consider this particular work newsworthy, just not the diversity of its workers). And, indeed, Dixie, there are “believers” everywhere that “get the point”. I get very tired of society’s view of religion being poisoned by the vocal extremists and then further poisoned by those attacking a vast cross section of religions because they are fed up with those extremists. It is only because of such a poisoned view on religion that a “Woah, Christians and Muslims can work together!” story can be newsworthy.

By MDA on Aug 2, 2005 at 1:07 pm

But are you suggesting that religion does not matter to people who are in the midst of catastrophe? Again, I’d argue that the religion practiced by other people is of little consequence, but it seems to me one’s own religion can be of great personal importance even in (perhaps especially during) catastrophe. No one would argue a particular person’s own religion is of great importance at any time, simply that it can be. And I will be the last person to say some individual’s religion should or should not be important to him or her in some particular situation.

I believe I know what you’re saying, I just disagree with the way you’re saying it.

You should know this is all clearly biased by my view of “Why can’t we all just get along?”. Other people’s religion has very little effect on me. (We all know what I’m saying here; obviously if some cultist kills me because of my heathen ways, that effects me a great deal.) Therefore, to me, other people’s religions “don’t matter” in any situation, catastrophic or not. (And we all know what I’m saying here; “doesn’t matter” as in “the impact on me is little and, in particular, largely independent of the religion in question”.) However, not particularly caring about another’s religion (in the above sense) is a far cry from feeling one’s own does not matter (in any sense).

Perhaps, though I have completely misread everything. It could be you are talking about people who would normally not accept aid from a person of another religion and that it is only because they are starving that “religion doesn’t matter”. People who lower their standards rather than face undesirable consequences. Or perhaps you just mean that people like this exist (I’m sure they do. Aren’t we all like this?). If that’s what you were getting at, then everything I’ve said has been off topic (Though I would disagree on that idea being applied to this particular situation for lack of data.)

It’s odd that all these paragraphs have been written because of my distaste for the title and what I believe it implies (or rather, what I read into it) when I agree with everything you’ve said not related to the title whole heartedly

By MDA on Aug 2, 2005 at 4:51 pm