The Anderson County Library System will host a free program titled “Our Journey Begins…,” a kick-off event introducing “Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys.” The program will feature Islamic artwork, music, and food as well as a discussion of the book The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Audience members will discover how much common ground is held among the three faith groups.
The program is free and open to the public and will be held on Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Main Library, 300 N. McDuffie St.; Thursday, May 2 at 6 p.m. at the Pendleton Branch Library, 650 S. Mechanic St.; and Thursday, May 9 at 6 p.m. at the Powdersville Branch Library, 4 Civic Court & Hwy. 81.
The “Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys” is a project of the National Endowment for the Humanities, conducted in cooperation with the American Library Association. Major support for the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf was provided by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Additional support for the arts and media components was provided by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. The local steering committee for the series includes Dr. Peter Cohen of the Philosophy and Religion Dept. at Clemson University; Imam Goma’a Makhlouf, Cleric at the Clemson Mosque; Dr. James Motes, Assoc. Professor of Christian Ministry at Anderson University; Steve Newton of Anderson County’s Human Relations Council; and Dr. Stuart Sprague of the Anderson School of Theology for Laypersons. Assistance is also being provided by the South Carolina Dialogue Foundation.
The Anderson County Library is one of 840 libraries and state humanities councils nationwide receiving the Bookshelf collection of books and DVDs and hosting programs for public audiences featuring the materials. The program aims to familiarize public audiences in the United States with the people, places, history, faith and cultures of Muslims in the United States and around the world.
For additional information, please visit www.andersonlibrary.org.
