Duke Chapel dean calls for dialogue after Muslim prayer controversy
Published January 19, 2015
by Angie Baloney, WRAL, January 18, 2015.
The dean of the Duke University Chapel sent a message to parishioners Sunday, calling for continued dialogue after a plan to broadcast a Muslim call to prayer from the chapel tower was scrapped amid security threats.
In a Jan. 18 letter addressed to the Duke Chapel community, the Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery acknowledged the “painful, stressful week that the Muslim community at Duke endured” and said the controversy reaffirmed the chapel’s role as a place of hospitality toward the diverse religions and cultures on campus.
Powery also said he hopes the week’s events will renew parishioners’ own commitment to prayer.
“The mission of the Chapel, as stated in our recent strategic plan, is to stand as a beacon of Christian hope that bridges faith and learning on Duke’s campus,” he wrote.
Duke had announced plans Tuesday for members of the Duke Muslim Students Association to start the three-minute weekly call, known as adhan, from the chapel's bell tower. But the move sparked a furious backlash, prompting the university to abandon the plan.
Instead, the adhan was held on the quad outside the chapel Friday afternoon before Muslim students went into the building's basement to complete their prayers.
Students have been praying in the chapel basement for years, and Duke Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations Michael Schoenfeld said officials agreed to allow them to broadcast the adhan from the tower to show the university's commitment to Muslim life on campus.
More than 700 of Duke’s 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students identify themselves as Muslims.
In his letter, Powery said the controversy raised questions about interfaith relations, the proper use of the tower and other concerns. He hopes to explore those issues.
“Thoughtful, faithful people have agreed and disagreed with the various decisions made this week,” he wrote. “In the coming weeks, the Chapel will seek opportunities for constructive dialogue about these complex and important subjects as we all strive for deeper understanding and greater faithfulness to God.”
January 19, 2015 at 2:11 pm
Frank Burns says:
Here is my dialogue. A Muslim call for prayer is offensive in this country. If they would like to worship, they need to do it quietly and unobtrusive to not disturb the majority.
January 19, 2015 at 7:17 pm
Norm Kelly says:
'as we all strive for deeper understanding and greater faithfulness to God'. The challenge is that MY religion does NOT call for me to kill those who don't also believe what I believe. What part of Islam wanting to kill me am I supposed to understand? And if I finally understand that true believers in Islam want to kill me, believe it is their faithfulness that requires they kill me, how am I better off? Won't I still be dead when they follow their religion by killing me for following my religion? Except my religion says I'm supposed to love them anyway. Tell you what, I'll follow my religion and love them anyway. However, I don't have to understand them and I sure as HE-- don't have to trust them. My faith says to love them; their faith says I must convert or die. See the difference?
Other than that, the big question is why Islam is being treated special here. Why is it that Islam can do a WEEKLY call to prayer from the bell tower when Christians are persecuted for simply carrying their Bible on campus? Which Christian faith is allowed to issue a WEEKLY call to prayer for their followers? For that matter, which Christian faith is allowed to issue ANY call to prayer from the bell tower? When was the last time Jewish students were allowed to call their followers to prayer from the bell tower? If there isn't a call to Christians or Jews, then why would the religion of death to infidels be allowed to do this?
Also, one of the kids that attended the call to prayer was interviewed on the local news. He is non-Muslim, and doesn't speak the language, according to him during the interview. His response was that he 'thought it was beautiful'. Why? What part of it was beautiful? If you don't understand the language, and it's a religion of killing infidels, how do you know it was beautiful and not simply a statement of hatred for non-Muslims? What other religion around the world believes in killing those who don't share their belief? If it's not a religion of killing infidels, then why does it say this in their holy book? If it not a religion of killing infidels, then why did their prophet kill people who refused to convert? If it's not a religion of killing infidels, then why did they kill paper publishers in France for simply printing a picture of their prophet that they didn't like?
There are hundreds of reasons why Duke screwed up BIG TIME on this issue. I have not even started to explain why this was a bad decision. This is not a case of the Muslims trying to understand other peoples religion, not a case of Muslims trying to assimilate into American society. This is a case of Muslims, a minority on campus, looking for special treatment.
I'd like someone to prove me wrong on this. Document for me which other religions are allowed to do a call to prayer from the bell tower. And have the prayer broadcast from the bell tower. Which other religion expressly calls for infidels to be killed? Which other religion has killed publishers for printing stuff that the religion hasn't liked? Show me where I'm wrong. As a Christian, I'd like someone to point out to me where my love for my fellow man is misdirected. I can love the sinner but still hate the sin. Muslims have no inclination to such an attitude. But prove me wrong so my attitude can be adjusted. Then perhaps I can also come to an 'understanding' of Muslims and their religion. Even though I will continue to refuse to convert. (and therefore put my life on the line! not according to me, but according to their prophet.)
