Cultural myths and two religions were the focus of a panel discussion held on Wednesday, Nov. 17, during the Southeastern Honor Program’s presentation of “Islam and the West” at 7:30 p.m.

Honor Program Director Kent Neuerburg introduced the panelists and gave brief insight on the lecture to come.

“We have much more in common than we have in difference,” said Neuerburg.

Dr. Ibrahim Sumer, a lecturer from the University of Houston, began by noting that Islam means “submission to God.” Sumer argued that this God is the same God that is believed in as part of the three Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. All three religions trace their sources to one man, Abraham. According to Sumer, between these religions, there is no distinction between the messages of Moses or the messages of Jesus Christ. God, when spoken about by any of the three faiths, is essentially the same entity.

Sumer went on to define Islam through its basic six elements: belief in Allah, belief in the angels of Allah, belief in Allah’s books and revelations, belief in Allah’s prophets (chiefly Muhammad), belief in a final day of judgment and belief in fate. He noted that many of these elements are strikingly similar to stories found in Christianity.

Dr. Margaret Gonzalez-Perez, professor of political science, gave the audience an insight into radical Islam, which she feels is misconceived as the depiction of all Islam by the western world. Gonzalez-Perez maintained that Islam is a religion of peace that actually condemns terrorism, mentioning that most of the terrorists are not theologians. The terrorists speak for only a small percentage of the Muslim population.

Gonzalez-Perez also pointed out that the connotation of “jihad” that westerners are so familiar with is only a secondary meaning of the word, that the more important essence is relatively unknown. The more important jihad is the personal and internal strife against evil. Terrorism, according to Gonzalez-Perez, is the result of a very few men drastically misinterpreting the meaning behind Muhammad’s teachings.

Organizational communication graduate student Ann O’Connor spoke from the perspective of someone who has lived in the Middle East for many years. She noted that, of the many types of terrorists, only about five percent are violence-minded revolutionaries such as the al-Qaeda. O’Connor feels that Americans who choose to subscribe to the Islamic stereotypes could actually leave people feeling unwanted and abandoned, which could then push them to seek retribution through terror and subterfuge.

“The speakers were incredibly well-qualified, and I now have a greater understanding of Islamic practices and beliefs,” said freshman Brittany Dranguet.

“Humanity will win,” said Sumer, explaining the symbiosis between Islam, Christianity and the world. “The essence of humanity will win, which is love, which is understanding.”