As a Muslim American my experience is very different. My voice and millions like mine are not heard. When my Iman joined an interfaith group in ct one of the Evangelical clergy removed himself from the group because he did not want to be in a group that included Muslims.

When I attend book groups- I hear comments that are widely anti Islamic…they have all the books and movies and media giving them reason to be anti-slamic .(Muslims could only do wrong!)

There is no doubt that Asra’s may be expereincing all she claims at her local mosque however all over America in many houses of worship…there is no open arms to all. In our community when we did not like the local Mosque we created our own house of worship with a few families. We have created a rich and welcoming place for all. That is what America is about. There is a place for all of us. There are alot of great Imans that have great American Muslim voices who are looking for support and a place to help build positive insttitutions.

What I would love to see a movie(a challenge to Asra) where perhaps a person such as Asra creates the place she envisions…where her values are respected. There are plenty of Imans who are ready and looking for the opportunity to serve. Perhaps she can create a Progressive Mosque right there next to the one in Virginal( there are so many different ones of the Christian faith). In my small town there are 5 Jewish Houses of worship and they do not agree with each other! Many of the Jewish faith attend the Unitarian church! And when I do interfaith work,I do it outside of my town because I find these groups do not welcome a socially progressive Muslim(who does not fill the sterero types!) In fact I would believe that Tukum would not be so welcomed in my conservative town. Now is anyone making any movies about my Town?

I take note of the fact that Judaism, Christianity and Islam all came about by revelation…whereby God revealed Himself to men and directed these men to carry out His wishes. To Moses , to Jesus, to Mohammed…all of these men spoke of how the Devine Revelation changed them. This begs the question of: “Is it the purpose of each of these religions to try to put us in touch with God?” For if it is, we must, each of us, attempt to go out and try to let God reveal Himself to us. If it is not the purpose, then it is enough that we merely carry out the wishes of some religious hierarchy.

I take further note of the fact that none of the founders of these religions were particularly well educated men, so if you would make the argument that the Devine Texts require so much study that only the members of the religious hierarchy are capable of interpreting or understanding them, it begs this question…”What is more important, the actual experience of the religious revelation, or the description of it as told to you by someone else”? What the religious establishment thinks is obvious…anyone who claims that they have seen or experienced God is inevitably cast as a blasphemer.

Asra may have indeed ruffled a few feathers, but that does not mean she is necessarily wrong. We are indeed living in a time that is full of promise, and one of the promises is that…at long last…we may have a chance to redefine these 3 religions so that we can…at long last…be able to get along with each other. Many of the practitioners of these religions feel this, sadly…the leaders of these religions lag far behind.