Hundreds of people gathered in the Oakland Center in Oakland University on March 13-15 for the First International Conference on Religion, Conflict and Peace.

The conference was hosted by OU Islamic Studies program, Common Bond Institute and International Humanistic Psychology Association. Attendees included not only OU students, faculty and staff, but also people coming from all over the U.S., Canada and even Africa.

The conference featured lectures, movies and discussion groups, and focused on religious ignorance, extremism, prejudice, divisiveness and harmony, with a special focus on Islamophobia and the Muslim community, and engaged in dialogue to promote peace and healing.

Religion and extremism

Many people at the conference said religious extremism and violence stems from absolute certainty in one’s religion.

“None of us can prove there is a god or isn’t a god,” said Rabbi Arthur Waskow, the founding director of the Shalom Center. “Religion doesn’t enter the realm of knowledge — it must remain in the realm of faith.”

He and others said it often leads to violence and oppression toward religious minorities, and that belief in a specific religion is not important.

“Much more important than creed is deed,” Waskow said.

Mohammed Abu-Nimer, professor of International Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University, said that it’s dangerous when extremists have access to state power and ideology. He, and many others, said there’s a difference between ideal Islam and sometimes-practiced Islam.

“This gap is not a Muslim gap, it’s a human gap,” Abu-Nimer said.

Achmat Salie, director of OU’s Islamic Studies program, was among others who stressed cross-community building and forgiveness for peace.

“Time does not heal wounds, healing heals wounds,” said Joseph Montville, the author of “Conflict and Peacemaking in Multiethnic Societies.”

U.S. policies hurt

Many said that United States policies hurt the peacemaking process.

Paula Gutlove, project manager of the U.S.-Muslim Engagement Project, said the global war on terror is inconsistent with peacemaking.

“We’re known around the world for human rights and civil liberties, so when we do things like Guantanamo, Rendition … it hurts us,” Gutlove said. “We don’t gain any respect from other people.”

She said there are four things the U.S. needs to do to improve relations with the Muslim world: use diplomacy, promote civic and government participation in Muslim countries, catalyze job creation in Muslim countries and improve U.S.-Muslim understanding through dialogue.

“Youth unemployment is very dangerous,” Gurlove said.

Imad Hamad, an Arab-American civil rights activist, said U.S. judicial process hurts charity efforts because Muslim-Americans are afraid to donate to poorer countries because they fear prosecution.

“It undermines our war on famine,” said Shareef Akeel, a civil rights lawyer. He told attendees how the FBI raided an Arab-American charity in Southfield.

“And somehow, the media is there at 6 a.m.,” Akeel said. “It creates a chilling effect for other people who were going to donate.”

Fault of the media

Many said that the media was partially to blame, by only covering negative news about Islam, and not positive news.

“It has contributed to collective guilt by association,” Akeel said. “Moderate voices are trumped by extremist voices.”

“Anyone creating problems is not a Muslim,” said Imam Fulani — an idea that resonated through the conference.

“Imam speaks, we hear him here, but not in the media,” Akeel said. “Bin Laden speaks from a cave, everyone hears him.”

Maida Besic, a Muslim junior psychology major and Islamic studies minor who volunteered at the conference, said she liked the variety of cultures, but didn’t like how most people were trying to defend Islam.

“Islam is such a beautiful religion — it doesn’t need defending,” Besic said.

Steve Olweean, founder of Common Bond Institute, said the conference exceeded expectations, and that they’re planning another one for next spring. He also said that practical applications of such conferences is people networking, which leads to other organizations.

Salie said he was happy with the different religions represented, and hopes for even more diversity next year.