Two of Boston University’s premier theology professors, as well as two other religious experts, held a panel discussion last night to discuss tolerance in monotheistic religions.
Professors John Clayton, Adam Seligman, Abdel-Rahman Mohamed and Qamar-ul Huda led a symposium, discussing many topics, including violence in Islamic thought and the place of tolerance in church and state.
Huda centered much of his lecture on Islamic laws regarding war and the reasoning behind Islamic fundamentalists. He went on to explain the requirements that must be filled for Muslims to lawfully fight a war, including training and the consultation of religious leaders.
Clayton, chair of the Boston University Division of Religious and Theological Studies, focused mainly on tolerance and its place in the interaction between church and state.
“Many times it seems as if monotheists have too many gods,” he quipped.
Mohamed, a former Boston University professor, lectured on intolerance and its source in prophecy. Born in Sudan, he is now CEO of Boston-based corporation AIM Inc., which works to introduce advanced technology into under-developed areas.
The professors also fielded questions on many topics, including the justification of killing civilians in Islamic law and the state of tolerance in poorer countries.
“Islamic law requires that the opposition must be soldiers of the force that war was declared against,” Huda said, “Civilians are not supposed to be the target of aggression.”
The professors concluded the panel by saying tolerance is inherent when many religions are present.
“The state often tolerates some religions,” Clayton said. “What is important is that all religions are tolerated equally.”
Boston University’s Society for Middle Eastern Studies, along with Huda, a Boston College professor in the School of Theology, hosted the discussion in the George Sherman Union. The event drew about 25 students and faculty members.
“Our goal was to have an academic discussion about tolerance and religion,” said Ibrahim Manman, president of the Boston University Society for Middle Eastern Studies. “We wanted students to realize that this is not only a religious subject but also an academic discussion.”