The first rule of interfaith relations is to start where you are.

- Martin Marty
This past Saturday, Niagara partnered with Fourth Presbyterian Church in an
evening of friendship and intercultural dialogue. Practitioners of all faiths, ranging
from Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and more, gathered
together in Fourth Presbyterians Buchanan Chapel for an event that examined the
relationship between Jesus in Christianity and Jesus in Islam.
Guests had the privilege of welcoming Martin Marty to the podium as he
introduced the evenings keynote speaker, Dr. Zeki Saritoprak. Saritoprak has held
the Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio
for the past 11 years and is an author on over thirty academic articles and
encyclopedia entries on Islam. The scholar presented a 25-minute lecture
discussing his book Islams Jesus, analyzing the similarities and differences
between the depictions of Jesus the Prophet in the Quran and Jesus the Messiah in
the Christian Bible.
Following the lecture, Dr. Saritoprak welcomed questions from the audience.
Guests inquired about specific terminology regarding how the texts refer to Jesus,
the significance of figs when breaking the fast, and the role Mary, Jesus mother,
has in each sacred text.
After the lecture portion of the evening concluded, a call to prayer was conducted
as a cue for those who were fasting that it was time to break the fast. For our
Muslim guests who had been fasting, the moment when dates were offered to
everyone was followed by a sigh of relief. Dates, ripe or dried, are traditionally the
first things to be eaten once the fast is broken. As a symbol of healing, dates are
full of the natural sugars and vitamins needed to boost energy and restore the body
with essential nutrients.
Following the breaking of the fast, Fourth Presbyterians Anderson Hall
transformed into a room of dining and dialogue. Those who registered for the
dinner moved downstairs to engage in more interreligious dialogue at tables with
friends new and old. A buffet of falafel, pita, hummus, kebab, and other delicious
food was provided for guests and prayer rooms were offered to those who wished
to pray in a more private setting.
The evening concluded with a feeling of enlightenment, fulfillment, and hope for
peace. As Mr. Marty remarked in his introduction, interfaith gatherings provide a

space for honest dialogue that reflects upon the current events going on in the
world today and what we can do as individuals and communities to try and
improve them.
The Niagara Foundation is honored to have partnered with Fourth Presbyterian
Church for an evening of community and interfaith dialogue. Niagaras Ramadan
Experience is an opportunity for friends to engage in conversation and learn more
about the similarities and differences between faith traditions that may not be the
same as our own. We look forward to hosting similar events in the future that work
in cultivating a community of understanding.