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Weekly Online LessonOnline Lesson ArchiveGrade Level: 8-12
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Understanding Islam
Over
the last few weeks, Americans have been reflecting on, evaluating and
reacting to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Along with facing tremendous
grief, new kinds of fear, and the surge in American patriotism, another
type of reaction has been evident - one that is causing some serious internal
tension, conflict and violence within our nation, between American citizens
themselves. That reaction is ethnic intolerance and hatred.
Because the terrorists and their suspected leader, Osama bin Laden, are Arab Muslims, America's general pride in its ethnic diversity and tolerance has also come under attack. Those American residents who are or appear to be of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent are getting harassed, threatened and assaulted by their fellow citizens. At least one man has been killed and many others have been shot at, beaten or had their businesses and homes vandalized, and a number of mosques - religious places of worship for Muslims - have been fired upon.
Much
of this emotional reaction may be rooted in misunderstanding or just outright
suspicion of those who have certain ancestral roots that typically practice
the religion of Islam. So in this week's lesson, you'll learn about the
beliefs and history of Islam and where and how Muslims live.
Terror In The Name Of Allah?
The evidence indicates that Osama bin Laden and his followers use their Islamic beliefs to justify their attacks on the U.S. and its citizens. However, many other Muslims don't agree that their religious teachings condone such killings. So to start, read through the Discovery Channel's section, Islam: Questions and Answers. These summaries help explain how different groups of Muslims interpret the religious doctrines, how they generally view death and killing others, and also shed light on some related topics.
Next, visit
the Islamic Institute's Understanding
Islam and the Muslims page. As you read, you'll discover more
about the religion's beliefs and get a brief history of its birth and
development. About how many Muslims live in the world and where do they
reside? Who was Muhammad and what is a "prophet"? What is the
Qur'an and why is it important to Muslims? What are the "Five Pillars"?
How might this foundation influence its followers' daily lives? How do
the Five Pillars and the Prophet's sayings explain how Muslims should
treat others?
A World of Faith
Islam,
like Judaism and Christianity, was born in the Middle East. This region
of the world has a long, rich, diverse and turbulent history, which has
influenced each religion's spread through civilization and its relation
to the other faiths. To dig deeper into this complex history, read In
The Beginning at the Middle East Institute's web site. How did
Islam spread through the world's various regions? Over the centuries,
what were the relationships like between Islam, Judaism and Christianity
and why?
Also read the site's section, called The Present and Future. How has the spread and stability of Islam endured or been eroded by the changes over time since the Twelfth Century? How might the diversity, structure and expectations of a society like that of the United States affect Muslim practices and the future of Islam? How might that be different or similar to the changes or conditions Muslims face in the Middle East and why? How do you think these differences or similarities might affect diplomatic relationships?
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