The National Council of Churches and mainline Protestant leaders are joining U.S. Muslims in a fast aimed at ending the war in Iraq. The fast will take place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, specifically on America’s Columbus Day, an observance the fasting groups refer to as a “day of conquest” that needs to be reimagined as a day of peace.  The Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) reports:

“We call on all Americans to join in fasting from dawn to dusk on Monday, October 8, to call for an end to the Iraq War,” read the interfaith statement.  “On this day, people of faith in local communities across our nation will act as catalysts to transform the meaning of the day from one of conquest to community and from violence to reverence.”  The religious officials explained that they chose this date because, “This fall, in an unusual convergence, many of our faith traditions share a season of sacred self-assessment and self-transformation.”

Dr. Sayyid Sayeed of the Islamic Society of North America said that that the Koran not only calls Muslims to fast during Ramadan but commands:  “Thou shalt fast in solidarity with other faiths and generations who have fasted.” He announced that mosques would open their doors on October 8th so that “people of other faiths will come in and break fast with their Muslim neighbors.”

Mark Tooley, director of UMAction, a United Methodist group, said the Christian groups involved are incorrectly basing their call to fast on a passage in the book of Isaiah: “Organizers cite the biblical prophet Isaiah as a model for fasting, but Isaiah called upon the people of Israel to fast as an appeal to God’s mercy, not to make a political statement. This protest fast is not about spiritual transformation but about exploiting an ancient religious practice for a political purpose…In their announcement, the Religious Left fasters note that their fast coincides with Columbus Day, a day that is ‘overlaid with a history of violence and conquest.’ For the Religious Left, America is the world’s exclusive purveyor of violence and oppression, and the Iraq War is simply the latest example of America’s perfidy.”

A more authentic fast, Tooley said, would appeal to God’s mercy for peace and security for Iraq and the United States.

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