When did "religion" become such a politically charged word?
For over 1000 years, Jews and Muslims collaborated in a unique social experiment, working together in the development of theology, moral philosophy, mysticism, and other scholastic pursuits. Drawing upon common ancestry and shared cultural values, religionists from both groups explored the intellectual output of their comrades and counterparts, weaving a rich tapestry of religious thought that combined the spiritual threads of Jewish and Muslim thinkers from across the Mediterranean. What happened to this historical exchange?
Over the centuries it was not uncommon to find a Jewish scholar who was well-versed in the Qur'an, nor was it strange for a Muslim scholar to be equally familiar with the scriptures of the Bible. In exploring the holy books of those who prayed differently from them yet believed similarly to them, these individuals engaged in an intercultural inter-textuality that enriched the spiritual lives of all. Such study never compromised one's particular devotion to one's own religious system; nor did it serve to deter participants from fully exploring their own religious texts. What happened to this spirit of open and honest exploration?
In the 21st Century, the world has changed tremendously. Political powers have risen and fallen, economies have flourished and died, and borders have been drawn, broken, and stretched like so many lines in the sand. Where once there was an atmosphere of acceptance and common identity, there is now an environment of ignorance, hostility, and xenophobic rhetoric. Yet interwoven with the strands of cynicism and mistrust are reasons for optimism. Jews and Muslims share a beautiful past of religious commitment and mutual enlightenment. What can the lights of the past show us of the possibilities for the future?
The Muslim-Jewish Journal is a new publication, a joint-interest collaborative effort between Muslims and Jews, the descendents of Isaac and Ishmael, the children of Abraham. It is a forum for open, positive, and productive exchange between two historic and vibrant religious communities. Through the collective exploration of two of the most extraordinary works of all time - the Bible and the Qur'an - contributors and readers alike will find their own religious perspectives enhanced. The Muslim-Jewish Journal is, in its essence, a religious periodical that preserves a sensitivity to - and a sense of sanctity for - the best of what humanity has to offer. Are you ready to turn the page and read on into the future?
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