As my church is putting the finishing touches on our Interfaith Peace Chapel I am wondering why having a place for people to pray in New York City is causing a ruckus? There is a similar chapel located a mere 80 feet from another 9/11 attack site and daily Muslims gather there for prayers with no controversy.
Inside the Pentagon, there is such a chapel and Jews, Christians, Hindus and Muslims use it regularly for prayer and meditation and nobody has a problem with it. Why in New York City, one of our country's great melting pots of culture and religion is there a stink about a Muslim Cultural Center being built on the site of an old Burlington Coat Factory?
Maybe because the talk show pundits have used this non-issue as a chew toy for the right wing? Why shouldn't Jews protest German Restaurants within walking distance from synagogues? It's a bunch of malarkey and the controversy is completely manufactured.
Meanwhile, our peace chapel nears completion and I invite anyone to visit it. Designed by the late Phillip Johnson, the chapel is part of the larger cathedral planed for the church. Inside will be symbols of all major religions in a sacred space that everyone can enjoy. Funny thing for a Christian church to build? Not for the Christians of our congregation.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment