Asad Zaman, a Muslim leader from Twin Cities, Minnesota, and David W. Shenk, a global consultant with Eastern Mennonite Missions in Salunga, Pa., dialogued on Muslim and Christian approaches to peace, March 22, at the University of Minnesota. Photo by: Jack Janzen

TWIN CITIES, Minnesota – Against the backdrop of a war on terrorism and calls for global jihad, David W. Shenk, a global consultant with Eastern Mennonite Missions, and Imam Asad Zaman, a Muslim leader from Minnesota, respectfully dialogued with one another. The unusual interchange on “Peace in Two Traditions: Jesus and the New Testament, Muhammad and the Quran,” happened March 22 on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

The dialogue which was attended by around 75 students, faculty, and visitors was the brainchild of campus minister, Philip Friesen, of the Galilean Center, and was co-sponsored by the Al Madinah Cultural Center as well other campus organizations.

For the first 90 minutes Zaman and Shenk dialogued about peacemaking from their different faith communities: the Christian church and the Muslim ummah. Both began by discussing how their respective faith traditions would achieve world peace.

Zaman asserted that force may be necessary to bring peace, and pointed out that within Islam, just war understandings are developed within the framework of jihad (striving for peace). He noted, for example, that Mohammed raised an army that brought peace to the Middle East for 400 years during the golden age of Islam.

Shenk, on the other hand, asserted that force cannot bring true peace on earth. True peace is revealed in the forgiveness demonstrated in Jesus crucified on the cross. The price of peace in the Middle East and elsewhere is principally the Holy Spirit-empowered will to forgive one’s enemies, as Jesus, the Messiah, did, when he absorbed the violence and forgave those who crucified him.

The speakers did not debate or refute one another, but sincerely and earnestly described what each felt was unique and important about his own tradition as it related to bringing peace on earth. After the initial input there was opportunity for brief responses, an exchange of questions, and a dinner break. Then for another 90 minutes both speakers plied one another with questions and responded to written questions from the audience.

Zaman questioned Shenk about his peace position as contrasted with the “just war” position of some Christians. Shenk explained that the “just war” position articulated by the 4th-5th century Augustine was rooted in Greek philosophy, and has no substantial support in the New Testament. While he recognized the need of a secular state to carry arms for policing, he dissociated that activity from the work of God’s kingdom on earth, claiming that force of arms only perpetuates the cycle of violence and prevents true peace on earth.

When Shenk said that he came from the Anabaptist tradition in which the early leaders choose martyrdom rather than participation in violence against the Muslim Turks with whom Europe was at war, Zaman expressed amazement.

Shenk also questioned Zaman about the Islamic “Law of Apostasy” (which condemns converts from Islam to death) and inquired about the concurrent debate in Afghanistan, regarding a convert from Islam to Christianity. Zaman said he does not support punishment of religious defectors, but he argued that in the case of an Islamic government, a Muslim who abandons Islam is guilty of treason – and that traitors are justifiably dealt with forthrightly in any country of the world. Shenk responded that the way of Jesus frees a person to decide to believe or reject God; in fact, within the Anabaptist tradition, adult baptism is a sign that the person makes the choice to believe or not to believe. He reminded the audience that Jesus offered the bread of friendship to Judas, his betrayer, a traitor, and even washed his feet.

After the dialogue, Shenk commented that he felt it had been a very provocative exchange, engaged with respect and remarkable clarity about the core commitments of their respective faiths. During the remainder of his time in the Twin Cities, where he spoke to a variety of Christian audiences including Immanuel Mennonite Church, much of the conversation related to the issues raised in the dialogue, especially "the way of the cross" lived out as citizens of earthly nations.

Friesen said he was grateful that both men showed deep respect for their mutual humanity, even as they acknowledged deep and profound differences. He added, “Shenk set a high standard of showing respect for Muslims while at the same time making the forgiveness of the cross abundantly clear. Both in the dialogue and in his other talks, he shared many personal experiences that demonstrated practically how the gospel triumphs over worldly power through weakness.”

-Jewel Showalter

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