We will be updating the list for the next few weeks, then sort them out and categorize them to avoid repetition.
Busting Myths about Muslims and Hindus
Saturday, Nov 28, 2020 | 12:00 PM EST – 1:30 PM EST
ZOOM – MEETING ID 822 3905 1769 | PASSCODE 873376
– https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82239051769?pwd=SmdjdnNEdUllMS82aEVQTENDSTJLdz09
Speakers: Dr. Ram Punyani, Dr. Pandit Sharma, Dr. Nyla Ali Khan, and Dr. Shamsul Islam. Dr. Mike Ghouse will moderate the event and Pinki Pathak will MC the program. Please note, each one of the speakers has a massive resume, but we have cut it down to 100-150 words for the sake of time.
Link to this information: https://centerforpluralism.com/myths-about-muslims-and-hindus/
Hosted by: The Center for Pluralism, committed to building cohesive societies where every individual feels secure about his/her faith, culture, ethnicity, race, and other uniqueness.
When you work with people of different faiths, ethnicities, cultures, and races, you are bound to encounter conflicts; both real and perceived. The battles may be overt or subtle, but they cause tensions and start pitting one against the other. They get entangled in these gratuitous battles instead of enjoying their lives and being productive to the company, government, or the community they serve.
Our goal at the Center for Pluralism is to bust the myths and pave the way for a tension-free living and work environment. We hope you walk out of the seminar respecting the otherness of others and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each other resulting in fewer conflicts and plenty of goodwill, peace, and harmony, and above all else, free yourselves to enjoy your time with your family.
The myths and stereotyping have persisted because very few have done anything to change it.
If you are tense about the Hindus or Muslims, it is because you hold negative ideas about them without any basis. Your parents, teachers, or friends may have poisoned you about the others, it is in your selfish interest to free yourselves and enjoy your life.
I am one of the guys with whom people of all faiths from Atheism to Zoroastrianism and everyone in between confides, and I will keep that confidential, but I feel their anger, anguish, and pain when they say ugly things about the others. This seminar is an effort to bring sanity, peace, and profitability to such individuals.
Here is the list in progress, and will add them all to make a comprehensive list and then classify them into categories to address. The next round is myths about all religions and tackling them in November over dinner. If each one has got some of this crap, how can they effectively work together, and enjoy life with so much suspicion?
We will collect all the items as they come, and then fine-tune them into 50 items to deal with.
A full article is appended below the bios of the speakers
PROGRAM THEME
Building cohesive societies where every member feels secure about his or her faith, race, ethnicity, culture, and other uniqueness.
- Sam Madden about Center for Pluralism
- Opening statement by Mike Ghouse
- Pinki Pathak is Program MC
- Moderator introduces each speaker
- Opening statement by each speaker – 5 minutes each
- Questions by Hindu Speakers to Muslim Speakers
- Questions by Muslim Speakers to Hindu Speakers
- Q&A from audience
MYTHS ABOUT MUSLIMS
We will add everything people have on their minds
1. Muslims can’t be believed. Unreliable. Backstabbers.
2. Muslim Men in India marry more than 1 woman
3. Muslims are rapidly increasing in population over Hindus in India
4. Violent n brutal, savage-like, or Kasai ki jaat
5. Orthodox especially regarding women marriage at puberty
6. dress code n caps to show identity n difference
7. Polygamy, age difference, no family planning
8. No reformation is possible
9. Muslims kill anyone to please Allah to go to Heaven.
10. Muslims are loyal to Pakistan
11. Subjugate their wives
12. Want to have sharia law
13. Kill kafirs
14. They Pray five times a day and talk about Killing Hindus
15. They don’t accept anyone but Allah, the Moon God
MYTHS ABOUT HINDUS
We will add everything people have on their minds
1. Hindus set their women on fire if they don’t get the dowry
2. Hindus beat their women to death
3. Hindus will kill anyone to please Cow God
4. They draw the lines for women not to cross
5. Killing female babies before birth are rampant
6. Trust the snake not the Brahman
7. They don’t value humans over cow
8. Untrustworthy
9. Wives are servants
10. They are all vegetarian
11. Drink cow urine
12. They have countless gods and idol worshipper
13. Observe the caste system, no respect for low caste
14. They don’t let low caste enter the Temples
15. Do Hindus divorce or in case of the death of a spouse, they remarry
16. Hindus mistreat and humiliate widows
Dr. Ram Punyani
Chairman Center for Study of Society and Secularism Mumbai. 
He has been conducting workshops and delivering lectures on themes related to, the agenda of communal politics; myths about minorities, and the Path to Peace and Justice.
Books: Religious Nationalism: Social Perceptions and Violence, Deconstructing Terrorist Violence (Sage), Indian Nationalism versus Hindu Nationalism (Pharos). Awards; India Gandhi National Integration ward (2006), National Communal Harmony Award (2007),
Weekly column on issues related to secular values and defense of human rights
Dr. Pundit Sharma
Born in 1952 to a family of Vedic Scholars, Pandit NK Sharma gained early exposure and insights into the rich heritage and legacy of Vedic Shastras by his father, Devagya Bhushan Pandit Dulichand Sharma, who was a renowned scholar of his era and was considered an expert authority in Ved, Shastras & Astrology.
Pandit Sharma has worked closely with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narsimha Rao, he was the go-to person to get things done. He has advised many leaders in the Middle East and other parts of the world. He has spoken at Capitol Hill.
Pandit NK Sharma is also closely associated with His Holiness Jagadguru
Shankaracharya of Dwarka, Jyotish, and Puri Math and has mediated various meetings between religious leaders of both communities to create a broad consensus on an amicable solution for an out of court settlement on the Ayodhya issue.
His extensive profile is at https://centerforpluralism.com/profiles-dr-pandit-nk-sharma/
Dr. Nyla Ali Khan
Dr. Nyla Ali Khan is a professor at Rose State College, Midwest City, OK, and teaches at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) as well. She also taught as a Visiting Professor at the University of Oklahoma. Formerly, she was a professor at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She received her Ph.D. in English Literature and her Masters in Postcolonial Literature and Theory at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Khan was honored by The Journal Record as one of the fifty women making a difference in Oklahoma in 2019 and 2020. Author of several published articles, book reviews, and editorials.
As an educator, her goal is to engage in reflective action working with diverse cultural and social groups questioning the exclusivity of cultural nationalism, the erosion of cultural syncretism, the ever-increasing dominance of religious fundamentalism, and the irrational resistance to cultural and linguistic differences. Her unflinching commitment to pedagogy, scholarship, and her unrelenting faith in the critical focus that education can provide, motivate her to build bridges across racial, political, and ideological divides.
Dr. Shamsul Islam
Dr. Shamsul Islam taught political science at the University of Delhi (1973-2013). As an author, columnist, and speaker known for unrelenting opposition to Hindutva, religious bigotry, dehumanization, totalitarianism, persecution of women, Dalits, and minorities, he specializes in fundamental research on the rise of nationalism and its development in the world and India with special emphasis on religion-based nationalism.
He has written more than 1000 articles published in prominent dailies and journals of India and abroad. He has 13 books to his credit and has authored more than 20 street plays on the issues of caste, persecution, gender bias, sectarian religious violence, dehumanization, religious intolerance, human rights, peace, culture, and exploitation. He has conducted more than 200 academic/ cultural. Theater workshops in the Indian Subcontinent, Europe, and SE Asia.
Dr. Mike Ghouse
Mike is a speaker, thinker, author, community consultant, pluralist, activist, newsmaker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. Mike is deeply committed to Free speech, Human Rights, and Pluralism in Religion, Politics, Societies, and the workplace. He is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism and a fellow at the World Muslim Congress, a Think Tank and author of the book American Muslim Agenda, building a cohesive America. He has dedicated his life to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media and the policymakers on issues of the day. Everything about him is at www.TheGhousediary.com.
Pinki Pathak
Joint Secretary: National Council of Asian Indian Associations(NCAIA). Working on immigration issues, organizing business & cultural events. Working with Asian American Inter Community Service (AICS) for healthcare, health insurance, mental health & general well-being of senior citizens of diverse communities. Working with the Asian American Center of Fredrick (AACF)for healthcare, mental health & other projects along with cross-cultural activities. Volunteered with ‘ASHA for women’ to support South Asian women & their domestic violence issues.
About Busting Myths
Our goal at the Center for Pluralism is to bust the myths and pave the way for a tension-free living and work environment. We hope you walk out of the seminar respecting the otherness of others and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each other resulting in fewer conflicts and plenty of goodwill, peace, and harmony, and above all else, free yourselves to enjoy your time with your family.
The myths and stereotyping have persisted because very few have done anything to change it. It is time we put all the cards on the table and deal with the issue – at least a few American Hindus and American Muslims.
What we need now: Please boldly share the myths you hear about Hindus and Muslims for the seminar in October, and other faiths in November. We will compile a list and discuss the issues in a televised workshop.
Send to info@Centerforpluralism.com
This seminar deals with myths formed about each other, and the attitude of ‘problem is always with the other and not us,’ keeps us mired in trivialities. Sadly, the idea has been pounded in by the parents, siblings, family members, teachers (religious and civic) and bloody politicians. They are indeed poisoning us in doses, and it is time to free ourselves from such misery.
Our goal is to bust the myths and pave the way for tension-free living. We hope you walk out of the seminar respecting the otherness of other and accepting the God given the uniqueness of each other resulting in fewer conflicts and plenty of goodwill, peace, and harmony.
Even though a few adults may fake things are hunky-dory, deep down, they have problems working with the others, due to the bias injected into them about the other. Indeed, they are loaded with ill-will, revenge, and relentlessly waiting for an opportunity to pull the other down. It must be painful to live like that.
Join us for the seminar, it is the first step in finding freedom from all the ills. When you don’t have to have the daily under-the-radar battles, cold wars or the subtle jibes. You can enjoy the freedom, which will pave the way for a meaningful relationship with your family, friends, co-workers, and others. Do we need to be free from these entanglements?
We have tackled over two dozen national conflicts over the years, it is a process of learning to deal with the issues.
Just in the last two months, we have held two seminars at the Capitol Hill “Do the religious scriptures contribute to harmony or add to the conflicts in a society?” A Rabbi, Imam, Pundit and a Pastor discussed their respective scriptures. VIDEO: https://youtu.be/KNsJjHQf3Cw
Last week we held a “Saudi-American relationship, everything you wanted to know about the relationship – Covered by C-Span. VIDEO – https://www.c-span.org/video/?449909-1/us-saudi-arabia-relations
In the month of November, CFP will organize a dinner event busting myths about ten different faiths to bring freedom to individuals to develop an attitude of living his/her life and also letting others live theirs. The program will be broadcasted live.
Years ago, in a meeting at the DFW Hindu Temple, a friend questioned me if Hindus were allowed in a Mosque – my response was, it is God’s place, and all are welcome. However, a few fanatic Muslims have difficulty permitting a non-Muslim’s entry into a Mosque, just like there are Hindu Temples where non-Hindus are not allowed, and if by mistake someone other than the upper caste Hindu walks in, they go out of the way to consecrate the temple and wash it seven times.
A majority of the Hindu Temples and Mosques in the United States welcome the others to visit their place of worship. There are guidelines one needs to follow – you don’t go in either place with your footwear, you take the shoes off, and no one wears mini-skirts in the mosque or the temple. In the mosque men and women are required to wear a full-length dress and cover their head as a sign of humility.
The Center for Pluralism under the old name Foundation for Pluralism held interfaith prayers in Dallas Central Mosque, and the Hindu bhajan (ode) was sung in the mosque, and the Hindu temple, as well, sang the bhajans with different names of God including Allah. That is the norm, and that is the majority of Hindus and Muslims who respect the otherness of the other.
Right now our fellow humans in India are living in tension and tearing that nation apart. Even here in the United States, at a Shiva temple, this month, a program was canceled because the fanatics among Hindus did not want the singer to sing hymns about Christ or Allah, and their argument was Mosques and Churches don’t reciprocate, which is false. Some of the best Hindu devotional songs are written, composed and sung by Muslims and Christians and vice-versa. Of course, the fanatics among Muslims have the same attitude. We the civil society has a responsiblity to build cohesive societies.
You and I must open up the hearts and minds of those who live in tensions and suffer miserably with ill-will. America is a great nation, so is India and we must preserve the goodness. Remember evil exists not because of sick people, but because good people do nothing about it. Let’s start doing good.
Each religion is as legitimate as yours and does what it is supposed to do to make you a better human, and every religion is dear to its follower regardless of what others say. The Center for Pluralism hopes to find freedom and restore the integrity in each one of us by learning to respect the “otherness” of others.
If you are interested in attending, volunteering, designing and sponsoring, please send an email with your interest to Mike@CenterforPluralism.com.
Dr. Mike Ghouse has spoken about the need for Pluralism and how the pluralistic attitudes make a difference in our daily lives; be it in religion, politics, society, cuisine, and workplace with examples.
Pluralism frees us from under-the-radar discomfort in working with people who are different in faith, cultures, race, and ethnicity. An example of Pluralism in Cuisine and its benefit to the business and individuals was explained. Pluralism is merely developing an attitude of respecting the “otherness” of others. It is not a mish-mash, nor is it yielding to the Other, it is just learning to accept the uniqueness of each person.
Dr. Ghouse of the Center for Pluralism believes in Mother Teresa’s wisdom, “If you want to make peace with your enemies or perceived enemies,” she says, “go talk with them.” Talking among buddies won’t change the equation. Dr. Ghouse cleared up how he works; he carries a conversation with people on the extreme right, left, and center. He has been on Sean Hannity’s show at Fox News 110 times. These encounters should not mean that he or the Center For Pluralism (CFP ) subscribe or agrees with the views of the people with they interact with. This situation lends an opportunity to share essential perspectives about pluralism.
Our dream is to make the Center for Pluralism a significant player in shaping America’s future. Each one of us should feel secure about our faith, culture, cuisine, race, ethnicity, gender and origins. We have the programs in place to accomplish this mission.
Please visit the Center for Pluralism and see the thing’s we do to build a cohesive America. An American where no one has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. You are invited to be a supporter, volunteer, and a donor.
The Center for Pluralism holds workshops, seminars, lectures and series of dialogue on Pluralism in religion, politics, society, culture, and business.
Mike is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, newsmaker, and a speaker on Pluralism in politics, religion, society and the workplace. He also officiates interfaith weddings.
Ghouse has appeared in over 300 TV shows and is a frequent guest on Hannity, and Varney shows at Fox News along with others. He has over 1000 hours of Radio Shows of which 700 were dedicated to interfaith and pluralism. Over 3600 articles have been published on the subjects. Mike has conducted several workshops on religions from Atheism to Zoroastrianism and everyone in between.
What is Pluralism?
Pluralism is an attitude of “Respecting the otherness of others” and “accepting the God-given the uniqueness of each one of us.” You are who you are, and I am who I am, neither one of us has to compromise the uniqueness of our faith, race, culture, nationality, and language. Our purpose is to acknowledge the differences and live with the least conflicts.
What do we do at the Center for Pluralism
https://centerforpluralism.com/what-do-we-do-at-center-for-pluralism/ ;
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Mike Ghouse
Center for Pluralism, Washington
Pluralism practices in religion, politics, culture, workplace, and society.
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(202) 290-3560 -Office
Mike@CenterforPluralism.com
www.CenterforPluralism.com
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