Berkley Center

From 2010 to 2013, Rev. Jim Wallis taught a Georgetown course addressing questions of faith, social justice, and the political process through a series of topical classes. In the past few years, anti-Muslim sentiment has risen in the US. Qurans and mosques have been burned or defaced, hysteria fanned around the alleged imposition of sharia law, and hateful advertising campaigns mounted. The response, in turn, from some Muslims has been violent demonstrations against U.S. embassies, including the killing of an ambassador. In this class Rev. Wallis suggests that the best thing moderate and progressive Christians can do in the struggle with fundamentalism in other faith traditions is to make powerful alliances with the more moderate and progressive leaders in those other faith communities. He shares anecdotal evidence about Muslims and Christians building bridges of mutual compassion and understanding in Joplin, Missouri; New York City; Tennessee; and Pakistan. The antidote to fundamentalist religion, Wallis contends, is prophetic religion. He argues for more alliances between prophetic religious leaders across the world's many faith traditions.