Group Discussion Questions
Faith And The City Forum: Interfaith Dialogue on Public Issues

Topic/Title: Iraq and the World: Peace, War, and Religion
Recorded: Parts 1 and 2: February 26, 2003
First Aired: Part 1, March 4 at 7:30 AM; Part 2, March 11 at 7:30 AM

Faith And The City Forum is one of several initiatives by Faith And The City, a nonprofit organization that works to encourage a sense of community throughout the 20-county metro Atlanta region by amplifying the voices of the many religious traditions represented in the region.

Panelists:

Ambassador Andrew Young
Co-Chair, Faith And The City

Dr. Alvin Sugarman
Rabbi, The Temple

Imam Plemon El-Amin
Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam

The following questions are offered to encourage discussion of "Iraq and the World: Peace, War, and Religion" (Parts 1 and 2).

1. What does your faith tradition say about war and peace? Is war ever justified? Do you believe war against Iraq is justified? Why or why not?

2. In our democratic society, should a person's religious faith help to inform the person's position on the nationŐs foreign policy?

3. If a citizenŐs religious beliefs differ significantly from a particular government policy, is it right for the citizen -- as a matter of conscience -- to reject that government policy? If so, what forms may that refusal take? Letter-writing? Voting the offending party out of office? Protesting in the streets? Refusing to pay taxes? Other means?

4. During the panel discussion, Ambassador Young, an ordained clergyman in the United Church of Christ, noted that there are many Christian denominations and many views on the nation's position on the crisis with Iraq. Rabbi Sugarman noted that a range of views also exist in the Jewish community. Does your faith tradition have a position on this issue? Do you agree with that position? Why or Why not?

5. Imam El-Amin explained that the word, "Islam," means peace. Did you know this? Does this definition or the imamŐs comments on how Islam limits the violence of war affect your view of Islam or Muslims? Why or why not?

6. Does the rabbis comment that "we are all God's children" or his description of Judaism's limitations on violence and war influence your views of Judaism or Jews?

7. If you agree that people of faith should speak their minds and express positions grounded in their faiths, will you do so yourself? How?

There is a quick and easy way to express your view on any public issue to our elected and appointed leaders: You can find email addresses for hundreds of leaders from the local to the national level by visiting the "contacts" section of our website at http://www.faithandthecity.org. Why not email your views to your representatives in city, county, state, or federal government? You can do it now by clicking here.