Dr. Alwi Shihab's forum address was a historic occasion. It was
unprecedented for a member of the Quorum of the Twelve
to introduce a guest speaker—not just with a few words but with a
significant message. President Packer manifested his love and
respect for Dr. Shihab not just in his words, but also
the time and effort he put forth in traveling to Provo and
spending the day with Dr. Shihab. These are clearly two men
who not only respect each other but also have much of import
to discuss. September 11, 2001, alerted us that the U.S. has joined the rest of the world in being threatened by tactics of terror and force. The relation of Islam and the West is most often discussed as a clash of civilizations rather than a meeting of equals. President Packer described the religion of Islam as a force for "decency, temperance, and morality," not a danger to us. However, we have a choice in how to respond: "Ahead of us, indeed already all around us, is the world of Islam. Christianity and Islam will clasp hands in cooperation and understanding or clench fists in confrontation and prejudice." In their addresses President Packer and Dr. Shihab emphasized that radical interpretations threaten all— Christians, Muslims, and those of other faiths. They stressed that we can and must work together in harmony, not in conflict. —Donna
Lee Bowen, Professor |