Understanding Islam

Nothing is more important to the well-being of the world right now than for people with differing beliefs to seek to understand each other.

The war on terror is not a war between the West and the Muslim world. Islamic terrorists pervert the teachings of a religion that has much in common with the other great religions of the world.

An interfaith forum last week in Cape Girardeau explored the role of women in Islam and the true meaning of jihad. The featured speakers, Dr. Tashin Khalid and his wife, Naghma, emigrated from Pakistan in 1992. They talked about the tenets of their Muslim faith and debunked myths about how women are treated in Islam.

They pointed out that some of the prophets Islam venerates -- Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Jesus -- are familiar names to Christians.

Many of the world's religions have profound similarities. They believe in a Supreme Being and in some version of the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would want to be treated.