Read the Spirit Interviews Samir Selmanovic

Read the Spirit is an online home for readers who believe that diverse spiritual connections between people of faith build stronger communities. Their online magazine includes inspirational stories, fresh voices, reviews of books and films—and much more. Click HERE to find out why we in Faith House think David Crumm and Read the Spirit are likely the best online resource for all things inter-religious.

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Meet a religious peacemaker who wants to celebrate our uniqueness

Some of us call it “The December Dilemma”—because so many of us feel torn each holiday season about how to properly honor our diverse religious traditions without trampling anyone in the process.

It’s easy to leap enthusiastically from celebrating religious diversity—to a kind of wholesale consumption. That kind of eclectic approach to spirituality can quickly erode the authenticity of any one tradition.

To which we quickly add with Seinfeld: “Not that there’s anything wrong with that!” Come back tomorrow and you’ll read what we think is a wonderfully thoughtful essay by a writer who—like millions of Americans right now—is indeed mixing and matching her religious inspirations.

That’s why we call December a “dilemma.” What’s a writer to do? How do we weave our way through Jewish, Christian and Muslim holidays, not to mention Kwanzaa and traditions in other religions that tend to vanish in an American landscape that’s pushing “all Christmas all the time.”

TODAY, we’re introducing an important new voice on the national scene, speaking out about these thorny challenges.

Samir Selmanovic was born into a secular-Muslim family in eastern Europe, then converted to Christianity thanks to a friend he met while serving in the army. Later, he immigrated to the U.S., became the pastor of a small congregation in New York City and eventually founded Faith House Manhattan to explore interreligious relationships. Finally, he began writing about his many adventures.

Samir takes a distinctive approach to religious diversity that we think is helpful in sorting out dilemmas like December in America. In his quest to clarify these issues, Samir uses terms like “urban laboratory,” “interdependence” and “strangeness.”

In a nutshell: Samir argues that we should not try to homogenize the “strangeness”—or uniqueness—of our distinctive religious backgrounds. Samir agrees with ReadTheSpirit that strong, healthy communities depend, today, on celebrating our diversity. But, Samir also insists that we avoid trying to blend, or even soften the edges, of our unique perspectives on faith—including atheism as one perspective. The key to recognizing our interdependence, he argues, comes from learning the value of defending our neighbor’s religious perspective.

DAVID: Since we’re talking here about preserving the distinctiveness of our religious traditions, I have to note for our readers that you’re the first Seventh-day Adventist I can recall featuring in one of our Wednesday author interviews. Your denomination has a long and proud tradition in American life, including the fact that the Kellogg brothers were Adventists and changed the way we eat breakfast.
But, considering your background in a Muslim community in Croatia in the former Yugoslavia, I was surprised when I first learned that you are an Adventist minister. Seems remarkable, considering your family background and homeland.

SAMIR: Well, that is the door through which I entered the Christian faith. The counter-cultural aspect of Adventism and its emphasis on holistic living attracted me. I also appreciate that some of our practices connect with Eastern traditions. I appreciate that our Sabbath on Saturday is rooted in Judaism.  . . .

TO CONTINUE READING THE INTERVIEW:  http://www.readthespirit.com/explore/2009/12/581-interview-samir-selmanovic-faith-house-manhattan.html