ROCKFORD—When speaking to Muslims, “Christians need to develop ways to teach the Trinity and that God is Love,” says Gabriel Said Reynolds, Ph.D.
A professor of Islamic Studies and Theology at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, Dr. Reynolds was in Rockford Jan. 28 to present a Hesburgh Lecture at Boylan Central Catholic High School, here.
The Catholic Church is in a special position to promote understanding,” he said. Both faiths stress keeping God’s law, remaining chaste outside of marriage, maintaining standards of modesty, and fasting.
“Catholics can say, ‘We’re different but similar.’ A secular person might have more of a challenge,” he said.
His talk highlighted some key elements of the Muslim faith, such as their distinctive monotheism and their characterization of Jesus; the problems caused by the Islamic State; and how the Catholic Church should respond to those problems.
“Almost any religion,” he says, “feels more comfortable with what came before.”
He said Islamic theology accepts some elements of the Bible, though not others. Adam, he explained, is considered the first prophet of God in the Islamic faith.
Jesus, he added, is seen by Islam, not as the Son of God, but as the last prophet before Mohammed.
For Muslims, Dr. Reynolds said, “Mohammed didn’t come with a new message, but ... came to reaffirm” what Moses and Jesus already said.
The Quran, the holy book of Islam, “is very concerned about how you speak about God,” he said. One of its concerns, he explained, is “ascribing divinity to anyone other than God (Allah).”
Muslims consider Catholic beliefs about the incarnation of Jesus and of the Trinty as “shirk.” Shirk in Islam is a sin of polytheism.
This, he said, was a key challenge for dialogue between the faiths.
He said the Quran is very clear about allowing Christian and other religious minorities to practice their faiths, although it prohibits them from trying to convert others.
Most Muslims, he explained, disavow ISIS, or the Islamic State.
Marcia Larson of Rockford had some familiarity with the topic before the talk. She studied Islamic studies at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
“I thought the talk was interesting,” she said. “It was very good.”
Dennis and Laura Sullivan, members of St. James Parish in Belvidere, attended together.
“I appreciated learning of their religion,” Dennis said.
Kevin Bischel of St. Peter Parish in South Beloit, said when he played soccer in college, most of the team members were Muslim.
“We got along,” he said. “They knew I was religious, and they were religious.”
But, Bischel said, he was concerned about the divide between the more peaceful early parts of the Quran and the more warlike later parts.
“I hope the Meccan (early) teachings take precedence,” he said.
The talk was co-hosted by the high school and the Notre Dame Club of Rockford.
Larry Didier, ND Club president, explained to the audience that the Hesburgh lecture series, named for the late president of the university, sends Notre Dame professors to communities around the country to make presentations on timely topics.
“I thought it was very informative,” said Jack Battel, a member of Holy Family Parish in Rockford and a past president of the Notre Dame Club. “There were lots of questions, ... lots of people interested.”
This is the first time Boylan and the club have co-sponsored the talk. Dr. Reynolds spoke to a group of Boylan seniors before his evening address.