Reverand promotes interfaith understanding and knowledge

By Nicolas Garza

Allison Stokes, a reverend who has been active on several university campuses, presented a discussion at Hudson Valley on stereotypes in religion and Islamic treatment in the United States after the Sept.11 attacks in 2001.

Following Sept. 11, Stokes was asked to conduct and produce a study of the three Abrahamic religions to increase understanding between Christians, Muslims and Jews and to promote knowledge of all three faiths.

Muslims around the world experienced hate, discrimination and fear in the days following the attacks, according to Stokes.

Stokes identified the prejudice against Muslims or ethnic groups of people perceived to be Muslim as ”Islamophobia,” which has been promoted to a universal term throughout the years.

Stokes displayed a detailed and graphic PowerPoint of what Muslims have been enduring around the world.

Stokes’ visual presentation also included a segment of activities conducted by George W. Bush and the United States government to mourn the losses of Sept. 11.

Following this, Stokes read a segment of the Quran, the Islamic holy book.

The passage involved human unity and progression to a race flourishing with enlightenment through the strength of good will, peace and prosperity. Similar values exist in other religions.

”You can be [a Catholic] and still attend a Jewish or Muslim mass, for example, and that is because the religions of the world abide all by a golden rule,” said Stokes.

“That rule is doing to others as you’d wish they do to you, and what you’d consider hateful, others would as well. That’s the perfect guide to being the perfect stranger in such a scenario,” said Stokes.

Stokes has been appointed director of Spiritual Life and Religion at Ithaca College. Stokes plans to start directing the Interfaith Chapel located at the University of Rochester.

Brenda Hazard, director of the Marvin Library, is a friend of Stokes and requested her assembly for the first time at Hudson Valley.

”I feel blessed we can host an event like this because it’s a positive event that can reach out to not only students of Hudson Valley, but the community as well,” said Hazard.