Looking at Muslim-Christian Relations, We Should Be More Optimistic

I wrote and presented a paper at a conference at Cambridge University (an amazing privilege), and was researching the history of Muslim-Christian Relations. Despite what we hear in the media, hatred and violence between Muslims and Christians is not universal and in many times and place, not even the norm. If you are willing to look beyond the sensationalist headlines, you will find a different story of the humanity that people show in their interactions.

This article by Jane Smith published online by Oxford University Press is a very good introduction. Smith puts the past animosities between Muslims and Christians, into historical perspective. The history of how the powerful have manipulated fears of others who are different explains much of the conflict in the world today. Despite the rhetorical use of religious labels, most historical and contemporary conflicts are political. Individuals interact with others within their political environment and have to make choices of how they will relate to others. Some individuals chose peaceful interactions, others do not, and these decisions reflect individuals’ general attitudes toward other people more than anything else. People are people first, they are whatever religion they may be…