Yesterday, as the Muslim observance of Ramadan got underway, I received a newletter from my seminary alma mater, Emmanuel College in Toronto. It included a photo of banners now hanging in the foyer which would not have been a possibility when I was a student from 1977 to 1980, the latter being the year of my graduation and ordination as a United Church minister.
Two of the those four banners have been resurrected from the past, if you can excuse a Christian pun, after years in storage. They could actually be Jewish because they feature quotations from the book of the prophet Isaiah in the Hebrew scriptures. To one side is a banner representing Islam while on the other side is one representing the Buddhist faith. This multi-faith visual reflects the changes that have occurred in the shared use of the building in downtown Toronto but the interfaith, interdisciplinary ethos that simply wasn't part of the college in my time.
According to the text accompanying the photo:
2025 is a banner year for Emmanuel College, as it will celebrate the centenary of the United Church of Canada and the 10th and 15th anniversaries of the Buddhist and Muslim foci of the Master of Psychospiritual Studies.
Fittingly, four new banners have been hung in the college’s entrance, one each celebrating the Muslim and Buddhist faiths, alongside a pair of Christian banners.
“The banners are part of the college’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion as they visibly recognize our diverse traditions and different identities in artistic and inclusive ways," said Emmanuel Principal Dr. HyeRan Kim-Cragg.
When I first heard about these programs at Emmanuel I wasn't sure what to make of them, even though through the years I've become increasingly convinced that interfaith conversation is vital to a peaceable world. In reading and conversation with those from other faiths my perspective has been enriched and this doesn't require me to compromise who I am as a Christian.
A worshipper looks through a theodolite to spot the new crescent moon to determine the start of Ramadan, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Friday. (Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters)
If I'm honest I was slowest in relinquishing wariness about Islam because of some of the horrors of Islamist extremism even though I know that toxic behaviour exists in every religion. It has been my positive experiences with Muslims through the years that has changed my outlook and my heart.
In April two years ago we arrived in Israel and immediately went with our family members who lived there to Jerusalem. We went hearing the cautions about the unusual confluence of Ramadan, Passover, and Holy Week/Easter. There was military presence everywhere.in the Old City but fortunately, providentially, there were no incidents. Everyone minded their religious business and we took it all in. We were blessedly ignorant of the terrible violence that would unfold in six months.
More than ever we need to promote and exhibit respect between religions when the temptation is to stereotype and dwell in suspicion. I'm convinced that this is what Jesus who is God-with-us as Christians and a revered prophet in Islam wants of us.
I've heard that during Ramadan 2025 charity or zakat in many mosques will be directed toward aid in Gaza where so many are barely existing in dire need of food and shelter. I wonder about donating to Islamic Relief Canada and I see that World Central Kitchen is making the connection to Ramadan as well:
Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, communal gathering, and unwavering compassion. It’s also a season where unity can create profound change, especially for people in urgent need. We believe food is a universal human right, and there’s no better time than Ramadan to translate this belief into action.
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