Bearing Truthful Witness about our Muslim Neighbors

The Ten Commandments remind us that it is wrong to “bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). When it comes to our children’s Muslim neighbors, how are we equipping our children to bear truthful and respectful witness to and about their friends? For that matter, what do we adults understand about our Muslim neighbors? By most estimates there are about six million Muslims in the United States. The World Almanac 2001 reports 5.8 million.1 Those are too many neighbors for us to ignore.

To order your copy or Abraham and Ibrahim for $18.95 call (800) 524-2612 or order it online.

Much of our information and impression of Islam, the Qur’an, and their adherents comes from evening news reports of extremist groups. Some helpful books for adults have been written to introduce Christians to a better understanding of Islam. God is One: The Way of Islam was first published by Friendship Press in 1989. A second edition was printed in February 2002 following the events of September 11, 2001. Yet, the need to help our children understand their own faith in relation to the faith tradition of their Muslim neighbors has remained unaddressed—until now.

We are pleased to offer a new book project in cooperation with the Office of Interfaith Relations and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program that provides truthful information about Islam at a developmental level appropriate for older elementary-aged children. The book, Abraham and Ibrahim: The Bible and Qur’an Told to Children, is a new English translation and study guide based on a work first produced in Dutch by Francien van Overbeeke-Rippen.

The original book was used for religious education in schools in the Netherlands. This new translation has been published with the ecumenical Christian community in mind. Peggy Thomas, who served as coordinator for interfaith relations for the PC(USA), was a mission co-worker in Iran, contributed a study guide to accompany each chapter.

The sessions relate narratives from the Bible and in the Qur’an in a corresponding manner. Stories of creation, the flood, and Abraham/Ibrahim are presented side-by-side to invite dialogue and exploration. The purpose is to provide children with accurate information about our religiously pluralistic world so they can begin to see the distinctiveness of their Reformed Christian faith. This resource can be used in classrooms, as a part of a mid-week series, or in individual households with parents and children together. It is our hope that it will provide tools for children to become more mature in their own faith by being knowledgeable about the faith of their friends.

1. The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2001 (Mahwah, NJ: World Almanac Books, 2001), 689.

Jon Brown is senior editor for Mission Education and Promotion. He can be reached at (888) 728-7228, ext. 5194.

Other resources for understanding issues regarding Christian-Muslim and -Jewish relations are available through the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and the Office of Interfaith Relations. Contact Mark Koenig or Jay Rock.