By Khalida Sarwari
A gathering of Christians, Jews and Muslims under one roof is not necessarily a common sight, but if Rod Cardoza had his way, it would be the norm. Ten years ago, the San Jose-based anthropologist founded an organization that seeks to bring members of the three faith communities together to alleviate poverty. Saratoga residents will have a chance to hear about the work Cardoza’s organization is doing later this month at the Saratoga Foothill Club.
Cardoza’s organization, Abrahamic Alliance International, operates on two main principles: education and community service. It achieves the first by bringing in world-class experts in theology to give graduate-level seminars on Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities. What distinguishes these scholars from others is that, in addition to their own religion, they are well-versed in at least one other monotheistic religion, said Cardoza.
“Our education kind of operates on the principle that each community kind of needs a safe environment to learn about the other,” he explained. “If they could talk to an expert in their own community who’s an expert in another religion, then we can create an environment where people feel free to ask any questions on their mind without fear of sounding politically incorrect.”
Examples of such instructors abound. One is Reuven Firestone, an ordained rabbi who teaches about Judaism and Islam at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles and founded and runs the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement at the University of Southern California. Another scholar, Mahmoud Ayoub, teaches Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at the Hartford Seminary in Connecticut.
Cardoza himself is a cultural, theological and linguistic anthropologist who has published ethnographic research on Muslim rituals. He lectures internationally on Muslim-Christian dialogue, most recently offering a seminar at various churches locally and abroad titled “Loving Muslims.” The idea is simple: introduce Christians to the basics of Islam and address misconceptions they might have.
“In the USA, what we believe is minorities know they need to respect the sensitivities of the majority, but it’s not the other way around,” he said. “So in the U.S. that means Christians are required at least to know the basics of the Jewish and Islamic faiths before we unite them in the context of compassion.”
Ultimately, the goal of Abrahamic Alliance International, said Cardoza, is to unite the members of each faith to serve the common good together, to tap into their compassion in order to serve the poor, suffering and marginalized.
“Our real goal is that after people have learned about each other, now let’s get them together in an environment of compassion to help,” he said. “We’re living in times right now when this kind of thing is desperately needed.”
The event, titled “Uniting Jews, Christians and Muslims in peace-building and poverty relief,” will take place Feb. 22, 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Saratoga Foothill Club, 20399 Park Place, Saratoga. There is a $10 attendance fee.
To learn more about Abrahamic Alliance International, visit abrahamicalliance.org.
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Interfaith group leader to speak at Saratoga Foothill Club Feb. 22
