Muslims Ask Inclusion in Ecumenical Groups

The National Council on Islamic Affairs, an organization representing some of the leading American Muslim intellectuals, has asked the National Conference of Christians and Jews to broaden its base to include Muslims in membership and organizational name.

Mohammad T. Mehdi, secretary-general of the Council, headquartered in New York City, praised the Christian-Jewish conference’s work “against religious bigotry and intolerance.” Estimating that there are 8 million Muslims in America, Mehdi said a tri-faith organization would encourage “stronger ties amongst all the monotheistic religions.”

Mehdi asserted that U.S. culture could be said to be based on a “Judeo-Christian-Islamic” heritage, if the Islamic contributions of “Arabic” numerals and studies in mathematics and astronomy are taken into account.

National Conference of Christians and Jews officials had not responded to Mehdi’s letter early this week, but a spokesman said that the organization had decided after discussions for the last year to keep its name despite its diverse interreligious and interracial activities. Membership, which is on an individual basis, already includes Muslims in some chapters, the spokesman said.