From Religion News Service
by Adelle Banks
WASHINGTON (RNS) A majority of evangelical pastors consider Islam to be “spiritually evil,” according to one just-released poll, but on Friday (Oct. 23) an evangelical pastor and an imam took turns talking about their friendship and mutual respect.
Texas Pastor Bob Roberts and Virginia Imam Mohamed Magid joined dozens of other religious leaders in prayer at the Washington National Cathedral before signing a pledge to denounce religious bigotry and asking elected officials and presidential candidates to join them.
“I love Muslims as much as I love Christians,” said Pastor Bob Roberts, of Northwood Church in Keller, Texas, before leading a prayer at the “Beyond Tolerance” event. “Jesus, when you get hold of us, there’s nobody we don’t love.”
Although mainline Christians have joined together for years on interfaith initiatives, work of evangelicals and Muslims is a newer dimension in efforts to foster interreligious understanding.
“I would like each one of us today to spread the news, using evangelical terminology, or to share what we have learned here today,” said Magid, president emeritus of the Islamic Society of North America, as he issued a call to action.
The pledge comes as presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ben Carson have questioned each other’s devotion to faith and Carson has said he didn’t think a devout Muslim could be president.
The pledge reads: “I pledge and commit to the American people that I will uphold and defend the freedom of conscience and religion of all individuals; and reject and speak out, without reservation, against bigotry, discrimination, harassment, and violence based on religion or belief.”
Many other Muslims and evangelical participants joined in the pledge signing after gathering the night before at a suburban Washington church as part of the “Spreading the Peace” meeting attended by 175 evangelical pastors and imams.
“American evangelicals, they want to win the world for Jesus and send missionaries, but they want to be hateful here,” Roberts said. “And they don’t understand they’re shooting themselves in the foot.”
