Multi Faith Learning Centers to Advance Civilization
By Michael Boyajian
A recent PBS special documented that Muslims, Christians and Jews working together in peace and scholarship were able to lay the seeds of the European Renaissance through the advancement and rediscovery of knowledge in Spain.
Too often in our modern times we restrict and isolate ourselves to working solely among members of our own nationality or religious group or even Eastern or Western orientation. What is needed are multi faith learning centers where we can gather knowledge of all the world’s great civilizations.
By expanding the reach of our quest for knowledge we will increase the statistical odds that we will make new discoveries and advancements. It is after all common knowledge that diversity is the key to the good health of any institution of learning because members of each group bring their own perspective to the table and all work to create a potent mix of ideas that cannot be attained with a homogenous population.
Anyone who has been to the Alhambra knows that this wondrous achievement could not be possible without the input of multicultural groups. Members of our learning centers would owe their allegiance to the greater whole rather than any individual nation or faith. This will not take away from their devotion but insure that their work is open and available to all.
Learning centers should be opened around the globe starting with one at the crossroads of religion, Jerusalem. New York would also be an ideal location with its multicultural demographics and in fact the proposed Islamic Cultural Center would be an ideal location for one. Other locations would include a European capital, Delhi and a Gulf State where by the way many cultural centers are now opening their doors.
The power of these centers will expand our knowledge of math, science and the arts creating a unified classical civilization beyond any that has come before it leading to an end to human misery in the form of disease, hate and war.