Moving beyond stereotypes: Women’s conference dispels false perceptions about Muslim women

Recently at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) in Lebanon, the Institute of Middle East Studies (IMES) held its sixth annual Middle East Conference. Over 60 participants attended the week-long event under the theme, “Muslim Women at the Intersection of Faith and Culture,” which focused on moving beyond stereotypes of Muslim women and covered three main issues related to their role in society (see Topics below). Evening forums brought together Muslim and Christian religious and community leaders to engage in topics aimed at better understanding, such as “What is a woman: Theological Reflections”; “Why I am glad to be a Muslim/Christian woman” and “Gender relations under God’s rule.”

Designed to increase general awareness and dispel mutually-false perceptions among people of different religions and cultures, the conference is one ministry of the seminary’s IMES, which provides opportunities for Christians and Muslims to engage with one another in order to bring about positive transformation.

“Through a transformed understanding of Islam at the Middle East Conference, attendees’ attitudes are changed as well. As a result of renewed love for Muslims, many will be able to relate to their Muslim neighbors the way that Jesus would: self-giving love and a passion to share the Good News about Christ with them,” says IMES Director Martin Accad. He also says gender issues in the Middle East are not only an important topic for women. “The status of women in our part of the world, whether in Muslim or Christian circles, has largely been defined by the social realities of a male-dominated culture and male-dominated religions. If we are hoping for a deeper understanding that leads to change, then men are going to have to be involved in bringing about change as well.”

Topics

• Dr. Jacqueline Hoover lectured on The Legal Status of Women in Muslim Societies, which covered the theme of Islamic law as it relates to women, family planning, marriage and the reasons for veiling.
  
• Dr. Linda Darwish delivered the second theme of Gender and Leadership in Middle Eastern Societies, which focused on women leaders in Islamic history. Darwish also looked at how the role of women is viewed in both Christian and Muslim societies. 
  
• Dr. Karen Shaw presented the third theme, Engaging the Islam of the Heart, focused on understanding and approaching women in Islam with knowledge, wisdom and integrity.

Click here to read about the 2008 Middle East Conference.