Muslims seek to promote peace, justice

by BETH HENRY
reporter

Everyone attending the Muslim program Wednesday was greeted by police officers and had to walk through a metal detector, before listening to two speakers give information on Islam religion and culture.

Chief Jim Terry, of the Marshall University Police Department, said police presence and the metal detector were "just an added precaution."

Since Sept. 11, Terry said he has been looking more closely at security and determined that precautions were needed at "an event like this."

Students and faculty of a variety of religions, cultures and backgrounds attended the program, which was held in the Alumni Lounge of the Memorial Student Center.

The speakers, Dr. John Helbert Parks and Dr. Joanne Dalrymple, are former Christians who converted to Islam and said they wanted to provide information and answer questions about their religious traditions.

Islam is the second largest religion in the world, and the largest growing religion in the United States, Parks said. "Islam is a religion of peace and justice," he said. "All of the great prophetic teachers are sent by the same God.

"The principles are the same ... no matter the language or religion," he said.

Parks read a poem he wrote about Sept. 11 and quoted the Koran, Martin Luther King, Jr. and prophets as he spoke of peace and a sense of brotherhood.

"Since I've been a Muslim, my whole life has broadened. Becoming a Muslim, to me it was a natural extension of Christianity," he said.

Parks called for the U. S. to change policy by contributing more to the United Nations.

Dalrymple didn't talk about American policy, but she did speak of Muslim women and their traditions.

"As an American Muslim I have the unique opportunity to dispel some mythology on what it is to be a Muslim woman," she said.

"Women and men are seen as equal in the Koran," she said, and compared the Christian story of Adam and Eve leaving the Garden of Eden with the Muslim version.

"There is no curse on the woman in the Islamic story ... Both had to leave the garden to work and raise children," she said.

Dalrymple answered questions about her head coverings, raising children and the husband's total financial responsibilities. If the wife works, all the money is her own.

"When you get married to a Muslim man, what's yours is yours, and what's his is yours," she said.

Following questions, international food was served and a group of Muslims prayed together.

Jack Hanks, senior history major from Glen Fork, said he enjoyed the program.

"It was good that the Islamic community could come out and we could all work together, even though we may have different beliefs or ideas," Hanks said.

Paula Soder, English as a Second Language student from Brazil, agreed it is important for all of the religions to cooperate. "I'm Christian, and I respect the other religions and try to know about them."

The Marshall University Muslim Students Association sponsored the program.