Tuesday, 18 November 2008
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Finding More Acceptance in a Mosque Than a Church
Disclaimer: I know little to nothing about attending an Islamic temple or about the faith in general--please forgive me if I miss a concept or use the wrong terminology; it is not intentional.
I was having a conversation a few days ago with one of the students who works in my unit. As a part of her course on studying different cultures, she was required to attend a religious service of her choice, as long as it was different from her own religion (in her case, that meant it had to be a non-Christian religious experience). She decided to visit a mosque.
She admitted that she was a little apprehensive about it for two reasons: 1) she had nothing in her wardrobe that fully covered her body (apparently, that's a requirement) and 2) she didn't know how they would react to an outsider visiting their place of worship. I was intrigued by it all and told her to give me an update after her visit.
Today, I asked her about her experience and she told me that she really enjoyed herself. She said that she was nervous upon entering, but no one gave her a weird glance or singled her out. She said that the service could not have been more than 20 minutes, but she spent approximately 2 hours there because she was invited to fellowship with them in the restaurant that they ran above the temple. She spent a lot of time with the pastor (again, excuse the incorrect terminology) who took the effort to explain things to her. Apparently, the majority of the congregation assumed she was a convert, and treated her warmly. I asked her jokingly if she was going to convert – she laughed and said no, but she did say something very important:
You know what, Angel? People have so many stereotypes about Islamic people, and I found out that they just have a bad reputation. I felt so welcome at the temple and really enjoyed myself. The funny thing is that people assume that churches/Christians are so hospitable and I've found that usually isn't the case.
There are so many obvious messages here. I'm sure you already know where I'm about to go:
1) I agree with my friend on the attitude that people in general have toward Islam. Not all Muslims are terrorists. I repeat, not all Muslims are terrorists. My first roommate in college was Muslim and I remember fretting for about 2 weeks prior to moving on campus about how we were going to clash. As it turned out, she was nothing like I thought she would be and we actually got along well. She revealed to me later that she worried about our clashing as well, and was relieved when we became friends. Of course our propensity to get along could also be related to the fact that neither one of us were devout about our religious beliefs that semester. I had a dusty Bible and she had a dusty Koran – but the point I'm trying to make here is that stereotypes are always harmful and I could have missed out on a great friend if I had been close-minded.
2) It's very interesting that my friend received more hospitality with strangers than with her fellow believers. I have heard so many horror stories about people who went to church seeking God and all they found was judgment and hostility. Now, I am fully aware that as Christians we are to inform our fellow brothers/sisters if they are living incorrectly, but correcting someone out of love is totally different from being judgmental. We have a tendency to use those concepts interchangeably. I just wonder how many people we could draw to the body of Christ just by being nice for a change?
My adopted grandfather used to tell us that it never cost you anything to be nice to somebody and that's a wise statement. I am well aware that I could stand to be nicer to people, and I think we sometimes forget how much impact kindness has on the lives of others. I wonder how many souls have been lost while we still struggle to learn this lesson.
Have you attended a service for another faith? How comfortable did you feel?
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Comments (17)
Very interesting experience.
You never know what other things/people/religions/etc. are like until you witness it first hand. Everyone should be more open minded about everything, even if it clashes with what you believe in. You never know what you could find out.
i was Wiccan once upon a time and was a High Priestess, so i've actually performed another religion's services for a group myself. and of course, i was comfortable with it.
on the other hand, i'm Christian now and don't feel comfortable in most churches. if i ever do go to one, it's not during a service, so i can kneel and pray in peace.
I have many friends who are Muslim, despite me being a Christian. Its important to remember that just because someone claims to be a "Christian" (in a worldly, religious sense), doesn't make them a good person. At the same time, their are many non-Christians that are very good, moral people.
Christians should remember that no one is perfect, Christian and non-Christian alike, which is why we all need Christ's salvation in the first place. We Christians should work on loving, correcting and helping each other become better people, as well as the "world".
Im glad to read something nice about Muslims on here every once in awhile. Thanks for sharing this. I think we can all learn to be a little more accepting when it comes to the beliefs of others. I once went to a Baptist church where everybody was singing and dancing and Praising the Lord...and I really liked my experience there. Everybody was really nice to me. Nobody tried to convert, they were just happy that I showed up with an open mind and was ready to learn. I wanted to see Christianity for myself and so everytime somebody who claims to be a "Christian" insults me, I always remember that Baptist church and I know that not all of them are like that.
I think Muslims have an unfair reputation and so little things like this help people get over their fears of each other and learn to get along.
@desertrose2890@xanga - Thank you!! There are so many out there who refuse to admit to being treated well by Christians, and I don't believe its because it happens so seldom.
On the other hand, I don't want to blame whole groups of people for the actions of some who claim to be part of that group. This goes for the blanket condemnation of blacks, Americans, muslims, Christians, etc just because there are members of those categories who deserve condemnation.
I am a Christian and I am not ashamed of Christ or his followers ( though the followers are nothing compared to Him). Your ability to keep things in context and remember your good experience is commendable. Great Comment !!
Very interesting update, and I hope it encourages people to re-examine their beliefs about others and themselves.
As a non-Christian my experience with Christianity hs been a mixed bag. I have met some truly special people who made me wonder if I wanted to be Christian myself, but I have also encountered attitudes and judgments which persuaded me I wanted nothing to do with Christianity.
I am curious about this remark, though. "Now, I am fully aware that as Christians we are to inform our fellow brothers/sisters if they are living incorrectly, but correcting someone out of love is totally different from being judgmental. " I`m not sure I see the difference. If you "inform someone they are living incorrectly" isn`t that basically judging them? Maybe the difference is simply holding other`s accountable to their chosen faith, which is understandable, since they themselves profess to these beliefs. But deeming someone "incorrect" based on your beliefs, not theirs, is essentilly judgmentalism, by my thinking.
I've never been to a mosque before, but one of my best friends is Muslim, and she acts just like everyone else [except that she wears a hijab]. I mean, I'm a Christian and I hate the terrorist-Muslim stereotype, simply because it's so wrong.
I plan someday to attend other churches but until I have my own means of transportation that isn't going to happen (in a year or so I should be able to! :)
Anyways, it is sad and quite frankly, I have found many churches that are not hostile but not warm and welcoming either. Mostly in my experiences church people have ignored me when I've been a visitor - neither mean nor nice. I think that's a fatal error of the American church.
I actually attended an episcopalian service and it was quite similar to a catholic service when I was 12 maybe? I think I felt welcomed, I remember feeling a little confused because I was comparing what I knew from catholic mass to what I was experiencing. I do remember the beacon saying something really welcoming to any one-day newcomers and for-life newcomers.
I have been to a Catholic mass on several occasions. I thought it was a little weird I think...obviously they do things differently than we (as a Bible church) do. It was alright though...I don't really remember what the people were like, I just remember recognizing the things they believed or said that were different. And I did feel kind of out of place when most everyone else was kneeling for the prayers and I wasn't!
@moss_icon@xanga - I agree with you.
Informing people that they are "living incorrectly" whether it's out of love or not is still being judgemental. It's complicated. Religion is a very sensitive topic.
I agree completely with what you said. Thank you so much for this post!
I visited a mosque in Israel and a synagogue for a friend's recital, but I haven't attended any services outside of my faith. Unless going to a baptist church counts. They were nice. My friends who aren't christian are pretty openminded and one of them went with me to a youth group meeting and mass. I think she got on well with everyone there, but it was all new to her so she felt really out of place.
I once spent a weekend in a Buddhist temple for a class project and it was a really interesting experience. The monks were so gracious and hospitable but also very strict. During meditation I got thwapped by a bamboo reed by an old monk for having bad posture. heheh It didn't hurt but it made me realize I seriously have awful posture.
Thanks for sharing Miss Sunflower! Where have you been?! Hope you're doing well!
I am a Muslim. I haven't attend any religious service for another faith, though I would LOVE to. The vast majority of my friends (now) are my xanga-friends whom are Christians. I love them to death; I respect them and I found myself honored to have them.
However, since we have no churches from where I come from, I wish that someday, I could travel somewhere -where there are churches- and just get inside one and feel the atmosphere there. I can't imagine how it's going to feel, but I'm very looking forward to have the chance& have the experience.
It's a great entry. Thank you very much for sharing.
Peace.
good post! i'm a muslim and i can see what she means. i guess it depends where you go, though, not all mosques are lovely and not all churches are hostile :D i have been to a service at a church, and i enjoyed it so much! i will never forget the kind people, but even more the atmosphere there (which was, i guess, a lot thanks to the people) which was beautiful! i am glad she enjoyed her time, it makes me smile :)
and there is nothing better than people that break stereotypes and prove them wrong! it's great in every way; i'm proud of that mosque :D
@mrsdandelion - aww, thanks so much! i haven't been able to post anything but i drop in to read from time to time. school will be over for me this week, so you'll get to see my smiling "face" on a more regular basis really soon.
~miss. sunflower aka "angel"