UNDERSTANDING ISLAM & MUSLIMS SERIES SUNDAYS, FEBRUARY 5-26 9:00 – 10:00 AM 724 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY, or via Zoom (wpcbuffalo.org/islam) February 5, 2023, Dangerous Doctors and Rebellious Rabbis: How Radicalism Has Both Shaped and Damaged the Jewish Faith, Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein, Congregation Shir Shalom A look at the foundation of Extremism in Biblical and post-Biblical Jewish texts. And a look at the warnings given in opposition to zealotry in these ancient texts. And, yet, how do these same texts get corrupted to be used by the extremists of today? February 12, 2023, Dissenters, Rebels, and Radicals – Christian Extremists and Religious Freedom, Rev. Dr. Jonathan D. Lawrence, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Theology at Canisius College and Pastor at St. Peter’s UCC, North Tonawanda, NY Since the beginning of Christianity, Christians have had conflicts with each other and with their governments. Some of the first Christians in America came purportedly for religious freedom, but created their own theocratic governments, leading other Christians to dissent and rebel. Since then some Christian dissenters have sought to advocate for religious freedom for all, while others have sought to control religious freedom. February 19, 2023, Extermism among Muslims, Muhammad Shafiq, Ph.D., Professor & Executive Director Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue, IIIT Interfaith Studies Chair Nazareth College Rochester, NY The presentation will cover the emergence of Muslim extremism from 1970 and after discussing the social, political, and economic conditions of some Muslim countries along with Western hegemonic interests worsening the prevailing situation February 26, 2023, The Islamic Solution to the Problem of Evil, Alana Arman, MPAC-WNY Why do bad things happen? What Islam has to say about the problem of evil and original sin |