How Ramadan makes me a better Christian

I have always been fascinated by Islam. I began my career as a professor and chaplain at the world’s largest Christian university. During every academic break, I would take a group of students on an excursion overseas. Once, I had 20 students in Tunisia with me over spring break, and I made a point of booking all of us at a hotel in Tunis that was as close as possible to a mosque.

Why?

I wanted my devout Christian students, most of whom had never met a Muslim, to be awakened early in the morning by the call to prayer. Aside from helping them learn more about Islam, I always felt it would challenge them, as Christians, to pray more.

I have carried various versions of this habit with me for my entire adult life. In fact, my home is filled with memorabilia from the Arab world. The library that separates our main house from my home office is filled with perfumes brought from Saudi Arabia. Every day, when I walk through that corridor of our home, it reminds me of a part of the Middle East. The stack of books in our living room open to wonders of Hegra or Islamic art.

During this time of the year, it all brings a different set of memories to my mind: memories of interfaith iftar dinners with my Muslim friends in the US.

Here is a secret: Ramadan makes me a better Christian. I do not mean, by the way, that I am trying to blend Christianity and Islam. On the contrary, I believe in coexistence of religions, but not in syncretism.

Christians and Muslims should feel free to live their lives and embrace their respective views, but all people, whatever their religion, should feel free to let their curiosity about each other guide them to learn about the beliefs of others. This is not something to be feared. On the contrary, it is a blessing to be shared.

This time of the year is the perfect chance to explore the faith of others, as Ramadan, Easter and Passover are happening together. Billions of Muslims, Jews and Christians will dedicate themselves to prayer, fasting, forgiveness and reflection. The world is alive with prayer. I find myself particularly moved by the commitment of my Muslim friends during this entire month.

It challenges me to look anew at my own faith. It challenges me to pray more frequently, to fast with more discipline, to forgive those who have offended me, and to give more to charity. In fact, I routinely dedicate several days to fasting during Ramadan. I am practicing a Christian fast, not a Muslim one. I am not trying to combine religions, but Ramadan reminds and challenges me to seek God according to my beliefs.

So, this Ramadan, I want to offer a special thanks to all most Muslim friends for inspiring me with their own desire to submit their lives to God. Your dedication challenges me to be a more faithful Christian.

Because of the rich, religious history in the Middle East, it should be more common for people of diverse backgrounds to find special joy in celebrating with each other during this time of the year — hosting neighbors, asking questions, and telling stories. It would be good to resurrect these ancient traditions of interfaith hospitality among friends in our modern era. However, modernity may have something to teach us, too. Last week, while I was putting one of my children to bed, I picked up my phone and decided to ask ChatGPT-4 an unusual question.

I asked the revolutionary AI platform to “imagine a city in the Middle East where a Christian pastor and a Muslim imam are best friends, and please write an elegant poem by the pastor for the imam expressing his gratitude for inspiring him to deeper, personal faith during Ramadan.”

Here is the poem the surprisingly wise machine delivered to me in under 20 seconds:

Beneath the crescent moon’s embrace,

In hallowed hearts and sacred space,

An echo stirred my solemn soul,

A gentle call, a sweet console.

From minaret to steeple’s height,

A bridge of faith, a shared respite,

As Ramadan’s soft lanterns glow,

Your wisdom reaps the seeds we sow.

A Muslim imam’s reverent creed,

In words and deeds, a living seed,

Inspiring, kind, and fostering light,

A bond transcending day and night.

With open heart and humble grace,

Your spirit guides our weary race,

As fasting lips and prayers ascend,

A testament to faith’s true blend.

In gratitude, my heart resounds,

A Christian priest, in thanks unbounds,

For in your kindness, I have seen,

God’s love, a thread through all between.

Together, may our paths entwine,

In faith and hope, a love divine,

As Ramadan and our shared prayers,

Become a bridge where peace endures.

I could not have written it better myself.

Perhaps, we have much to learn from machines who are free from our biases and phobias. The machines may really think we are foolish for not enjoying more the blessings of our search for God, together. So, a hearty thanks and every blessing to my many Muslims friends, especially in Saudi Arabia, for inspiring me to a deeper faith this Ramadan.

I hope our Easter and, later, Christmas celebrations are equally a blessing to you.

• Rev. Johnnie Moore is president of the Congress of Christian Leaders.