Dr. John Warren: An opportunity to stop the hate…Lent and Ramadan

by Dr. John E. Warren We, the citizens of the United States of America, as well as our fellow citizens of the world, are living in a period of unprecedented conflict. While the word “hatred” is rarely used or mentioned, it is the source of the worst among us toward others. In this country, founded upon the melting pot idea that there is room for everyone, we find people continuing to be attacked based on their race, color, religion, nationality and appearance. It is timely that two of the world’s greatest religions would intersect this month with a shared idea that for ages has been the solution to hate and its destruction. The Christian observance of Lent and the Muslim observance of Ramadan are intersecting with a shared religious practice known as “fasting”. The Christian observance calls for giving up certain foods or practices for a 40 day period as a symbolic sharing with Christ in his suffering. Lent is calculated based on the spring equinox. Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which follows a lunar cycle. As a result, the dates for Ramadan change every year, and the period of fasting is for one month....