May 28, 2022
Dear Friends,
We are members of All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation and The Salaam Network, an interfaith education network, based in Louisville, Kentucky, which have partnered since 2019 to present a large number of programs aimed at disseminating accurate information about Islam – the faith of one-fourth of humanity – in our community (Please see https://www.salaamnetwork.org “Programs and Presentations”). Our collaboration led to the development of a Proposal to include Islam in the UU Sources of Inspiration. A copy of the Proposal is available on the All Peoples website. The main points of the Proposal are mentioned below.
Where do UU’s Find Inspiration?
As you are aware, A Unitarian Universalists draw their inspiration from many Sources. This shows our openness to accepting the wisdom of diverse religious and spiritual traditions in order to deepen and broaden their own tradition. number of these traditions are mentioned, directly or indirectly, in our Six Sources of Inspiration. The 4th Source makes explicit reference to Judaism and Christianity, and acknowledges “Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves,” but does not mention Islam. Since Islam is universally recognized as one of the three major Abrahamic religions coming from the same divine source and affirming the aforementioned traditions, there is no theological, spiritual and ethical justification for excluding it from the 4th Source. Hence, our Proposal calls for updating this Source as follows:
“Jewish, Christian and Islamic teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves
Historical Link between Unitarian and Islamic Tradition
Michael Servetus (1511-1553), one of the theological founders of Unitarianism was greatly influenced by Islam and quoted the Qur’anic texts proclaiming the Oneness of God in his major works. He refused to remove these citations and laudatory comments about Islam and Prophet Muhammad during his trial for heresy for which he was sentenced to death by burning on the orders of Calvin. Servetus, in turn, had a formative influence on Giorgio Biandrata and David Ferenc, who founded the first Unitarian Church in Transylvania. It is a fact that the cardinal principle of Islam – belief in the Oneness of God – inspired the theological foundation of Unitarianism which was seen, for centuries, as an offshoot or affiliate of Islam.
Rev. Alicia McNary Forsey Ph.D., the foremost UU historian of the 16th century, in her extremely well-researched book Queen Isabella Sforza Szapolyai of Transylvania and Sultan Suleyman of the Ottoman Empire: A Case of Sixteenth-Century Muslim-Christian Collaboration (published by Edwin Mellen Publisher, September 30, 2009), has drawn attention to the role played by Sultan Suleyman, the Ottoman Muslim ruler, to protect Queen Isabella of Transylvania and the infant Unitarian Church in that region from being destroyed by formidable Trinitarian forces which surrounded them in the 16th century. Rev. Justin Osterman has correctly observed in his sermon delivered on 23 June, 2011, “As Unitarians, we are the direct beneficiaries of Muslim tolerance toward other faiths. Without the protection of the Ottoman Turks, our faith might never have had the chance to establish a foothold in Europe and our liberal religious views might never have survived to help shape contemporary culture.”
Islamophobia is Rampant
We are aware of the fact that Islamophobia is rampant in our country and that there are widespread misconceptions and misunderstandings about Islam and Muslims. Since, 2016, our team of outstanding educators, including Dr. Riffat Hassan, Professor Emerita of the University of Louisville, and Founder and Executive Director of The Salaam Network, an internationally-recognized scholar of Islam and a pioneer of Islamic feminist theology and interreligious dialogue, has conducted more than one hundred and thirty programs to dismantle misleading myths about Islam through proper representation of its beliefs and practices.
We have produced important materials to support our Proposal which has been submitted for the consideration of the Article II Commission of the UUA. Amongst these is a Short Film entitled “Islam as a Source of Inspiration” which presents the rationale for our Proposal clearly and compellingly. The link to the Film which has been shown at GA Annual Meeting (June 2021) and locally, and received very positive reviews:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNoJmyiD9bc
We urge you to see and share this valuable resource as widely as you can.
Our earliest submission related to our PETITION: Include Islam in UU Sources of Inspiration was a lengthy dossier compiled for the consideration of the UUA Article II Commission which is posted on the All Peoples website and may be accessed at:
https://www.allpeoplesuu.com/islam-in-uu-sources-of-inspiration/
This dossier contains supporting documents by members of our group as well as eminent UUs (including Muslim UUs).
Prominent UU Ministers Support Proposal
We would like to bring to your notice that several prominent UU Ministers who are knowledgeable about Islam have signed this Letter as “Supporters.” Their names and affiliations are listed at the end of this Letter. We are most thankful to them for their strong affirmation of our historic Proposal. We are especially indebted to Rev. Alicia Forsey for her personal guidance to us in understanding the relationship between Unitarianism and Islam in the 16th century. She is currently writing the screenplay for her book on Queen Isabella and Sultan Suleyman which will hopefully, be made into an epic movie that is likely to bring about a paradigm shift in UU perception of Islam and Muslims.
Thanking you in advance for your consideration of this Letter and our Proposal,
With highest regards,
Dr. Dennis Neyman, Louisville educator (retired) and activist. Past president of All Peoples, a UU Congregation (formerly Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church), Louisville
Rev. Dr. Joseph Brennan, Member All Peoples, a UU Congregation; Member of the Board of Directors and Scholar-in-Residence of The Salaam Network, Louisville
Join Supporters
We hope that you will join the distinguished UU ministers, scholars and members of All Peoples who signed on as Supporters of this Letter as we advance this initiative to the UUA General Assembly following the overwhelming positive vote at the May 15, 2022 All Peoples’ Congregational Meeting. All we need from you is your name and affiliation and an indication that you are in support of our proposal to include Islam in the UU Sources of Inspiration. This information is to be sent to dennisneyman@icloud.com
Current Supporters
Rev. Dr. Mellen Kennedy, Settled Minister at Springfield Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse, Vermont.
Rev. Dr. Susan Ritchie Parish Minister at North Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Lewis Center, Ohio.
Rev. Terre Balof, Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Lynchburg, Virginia.
Rev. J. Mark Worth, Minister Emeritus, Unitarian Universalist Church of Ellsworth, Maine.
Rev. Craig Moro, Minister Wy’east Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
Rev. Kathleen Owens, Past Lead Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego.
Rev. Dr. Lucy Hitchcock, Board Member, Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community,
Rev. Kristen Psaki, Affiliated Community Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, Colorado.
Rev. Alicia McNary Forsey Ph.D., is an Accredited Interim Minister, an artist and a writer.
Rev. Tony Fisher, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Greater Naples, Florida.
Rev. Bob Morriss, Minister Emeritus, Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne, Wyoming, member First Unitarian Universalist Church at Lynchburg, Virginia.
Rev. Dr. Makanah E. Morriss, Minister Emerita, Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne, Wyoming, member First Unitarian Universalist Church at Lynchburg, Virginia.
Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle, minister emeritus, First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego
Dr. Dick Burkhart, Trustee, Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church, Des Moines, Washington.
Ellen S. Wade, All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Louisville.
Marcia Dorman, All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Louisville.
Patricia B. Roles, All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Louisville
Alan W. Roles, All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Louisville.
Jean D. Koehler, All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Louisville
Sincerely, Dennis Neyman, Ph.D.