Resources for Religious Leaders

A Guide for Religious Leaders

Go to the Lesson Plans

Never has it been more important for religious leaders to educate constituents about Islam and those who hold this faith dear. Public misperceptions and media stereotypes in the aftermath of September 11 have led to widespread inaccuracies about Muslims in this country and around the world. Surveys show that vast numbers of non-Muslim Americans know little or nothing about their Muslim neighbors. The stories non-Muslim Americans tell about Islam are frequently colored by fear, misinformation and prejudice.

This curriculum offers a starting point to help religious leaders counter these misconceptions. Its purpose is to increase knowledge and understanding of Islam and the Muslim community in order to reduce misinformation and promote mutual respect. While it is not age specific, this four-session plan offers a primer for religious educators. These sessions also expose some of the myths about Muslims so dominant in our culture and introduce students to stories told by Muslims themselves. The goal: to humanize Muslim Americans who may number more than five million. Each session has been designed to take approximately forty minutes.

Most of the resources needed for these sessions can be found on the web site, ChangeTheStory.net. It will be helpful to have a computer with high speed access and a video card in your classroom or learning center. Depending on the size of your class, an LED projector may also be helpful. Other resources (such as the quizzes) can be printed from the web site and duplicated. Of particular use to you as a religious educator, especially if you wish to take this topic to a deeper level, is the Additional Resources button that appears below. Even more resources are scattered throughout ChangeTheStory.net.

The three Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) share many core principles, beliefs and narratives. Muslims believe in the authenticity of the messages given by God to the prophets that came before Mohammed. Abraham is mentioned in the Qur’an as a “Friend of God.” Like Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that God established a covenant with Abraham to keep faith with the one God, to worship God and to teach God’s commandments to descendants from generation to generation. In return, God preserves, protects, and multiplies the children of Abraham – of all three sister traditions.

Muslims have great reverence for Mary, the mother of Jesus and believe that Jesus was a great prophet and will come again. There are differences among the Abrahamic traditions, but at a time in history when what separates Jews, Christians and Muslims tends to be emphasized in the public mind, it is important for religious leaders to offer sound information and thoughtful counsel as constituents talk and act across lines of faith and culture.

The flow of this lesson plan moves along a pathway that leads from knowledge (what are facts about Islam and Muslims?) and awareness (what are feelings I have about Muslims?) to the development of skills and abilities (what am I able to do?) and culminates in action (what am I going to do?).

Be aware that this subject matter often evokes passionate feelings. Be sure that you create a “safe space” for your discussions. Announce early and often that while differences of opinion are to be honored, there is no place in your class for personal attacks or hate-filled diatribes.

Extremists are slaves to policies, politics and power, not religion. Throughout history, people have used religion to propagate political agendas and justify grievances. Everyday stories of moderate, faithful law abiding Muslims, who try to make a living, raise families, and enjoy life, are not what typically make headlines. It is not the job of the news to educate people about others’ religions. That is a part of your role as a religious educator. If you seek to move beyond today’s headlines to understand the rich history and contributions of Islam and to change the story from one of ignorance and fear to one of compassion and respect for our Muslim neighbors, this curriculum is one place to begin that journey.

Curriculum

Below you will find four session plans as a suggested guide for conversation and exploration of Islam and Muslims in your congregation.

View the Lesson Plans as Web Pages

• Day 1 Lesson Plan
• Day 2 Lesson Plan
• Day 3 Lesson Plan
• Day 4 Lesson Plan


• Additional Resources for Religious Leaders

Download the Lesson Plans as PDFs

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