Series in Macon aims to help people understand Islam, Muslims

Some say people speculate and make assumptions about Islam and Muslims based on unfounded reports and headline-grabbing extremists.

That's one reason a series called "Muslims in America" has been planned at Mercer University beginning in January. It is free and open to the public.

Eimad Houry, head of the Department of International & Global Studies, said in a statement that he and others are hosting the series "in light of the recent surge in anti-Muslim rhetoric in the presidential race, and the dramatic rise in the number of attacks against Muslims and Islamic places of worship around the country."

Some of these actions have happened close to home. Earlier this month, someone vandalized the Islamic Center of Macon by leaving graffiti markings on the outside of the building. No arrests have been reported.

The Mercer series will cover "a controversial aspect of the current debates surrounding the character and impact of the religion of Islam," Houry said. "Polls clearly show that Americans who know about Islam or have met a Muslim at some point are much more likely to have a favorable opinion about the faith and its followers."

And there's another reason. At a student event on Islamophobia last month, some Muslim students talked about their experiences as Muslims, but the audience had a lot of questions the students couldn't answer, said Hannah Vann, coordinator of Community Engagement at the university. The audience "really wanted information about the history of the religion and different aspects that come up in the media that required some expertise. ... We just want to help people get a better understanding about what Islam is and what Muslims stand for."

All the monthly events from January through April are scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Willingham Auditorium on the corner of Coleman Avenue and Adams Street.

The topic for the first in the series to be held Jan. 21 is Judeo-Christian-Islamic Values: One God! The interfaith panel will feature Rabbi Larry Schlesinger from Temple Beth Israel in Macon, Pastor Scott Dickison from First Baptist Church of Christ in Macon, and Imam Adam Fofana from the Islamic Center of Middle Georgia in Centerville. University Minister and Dean of Chapel Craig McMahan will moderate.

Schlesinger said the Mercer chapel has sponsored similar events for about three years.

In his presentation, he wants to focus on "the commonality and beliefs that we all share and what our common aspirations" are.

"The perception is that we are sort of at each other's throats when in fact there is a lot in terms of cooperation and communication that's going on that gets eclipsed by all of the headlines and the actions of extremists," he said.

"We basically pray to the same God," said Schlesiinger, who has been a rabbi since 1978. "And we all want peace in our society."

Houry said efforts are underway to line up speakers for the remainder of the series. Other dates and topics are:

Feb. 9, Radicalization: The causes and spread of extremism.

March 22, The Muslims are coming: The truth behind Islamization, Shari'a and Jihad.

April 19, Religious dialogue: The solutions for peace.

Vann said the primary goal is "to get factual, accurate information out there for our students and faculty and staff and for the Macon community."

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223, or follow her on Twitter@MidGaBiz.

This story was originally published December 25, 2015 at 8:27 PM with the headline "Series in Macon aims to help people understand Islam, Muslims ."