Pamela K. Taylor

Pamela K. Taylor

co-founder, Muslims for Progressive Values

"On Faith" panelist Pamela K. Taylor is co-founder of Muslims for Progressive Values and director of the Islamic Writers Alliance. She is a member of the national board of advisors to the Network of Spiritual Progressives, and served as co-chair of the Progressive Muslim Union for two years. Taylor is a strong supporter of the woman imam movement, which seeks the full participation of Muslim women in every aspect of life, including the pulpit. In July 2005, she became the first woman in centuries to officiate Friday prayers in a mosque when the United Muslim Association of Toronto and the Muslim Canadian Congress invited her to serve as guest imam. (This event followed a number of services, sermons and prayer sessions led by women held in private venues because no mosque agreed to host them.) In February 2006, when the former Grand Mufti of Marseilles visited Toronto, he requested that Taylor lead him in congregational prayer as an unequivocal demonstration of his support for female imams. Taylor has also been active in interfaith dialogue for 20 years, both in local initiatives and speaking at numerous conferences, universities, and churches. She received her MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and writes regularly on spiritual matters and the Islamic faith. She has essays in Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality: Perspectives from the World's Religious Traditions (2006) and the forthcoming The Veil: Women Writers on Its History, Lore, and Politics (2007). She has written hundreds of articles and opinion pieces for newspapers, magazines, and journals, and is an award winning poet. Close.

Pamela K. Taylor

co-founder, Muslims for Progressive Values

"On Faith" panelist Pamela K. Taylor is co-founder of Muslims for Progressive Values and director of the Islamic Writers Alliance. She is a member of the national board of advisors to the Network of Spiritual Progressives, and served as co-chair of the Progressive Muslim Union for two years. Taylor is a strong supporter of the woman imam movement, which seeks the full participation of Muslim women in every aspect of life, including the pulpit. more »

Main Page | Pamela K. Taylor Archives | On Faith Archives


Life as a Minority Isn't What it Used to Be

We have Iftars at the White House, a congressman who is Muslim, and a presidential candidate who is not only black but also attended madrassa as a child.

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All Comments (23)

VICTORIA:

haloz i dont understand what you said-

im not merve- im not even turkish!

Anonymous:

TRIVIA: Did you know that , Literally & Figuretivly , that "ZiON" or 'Zien' or 'Zye-in' or similar eponym varient,s means to acsually 'Screw something" or via sex someone! And

even more interesting, in ARABIC , not lost in translation , and in Hebrew (lots of Arabic therein & thereof, visa vis) via the the word 'ZiBBY', means a Mans (sex Part, Circumcised or not) organ! And so,

Arabs have Copy Cat the concept "KOSHER" and called it their 'HALLAL"! So Zibby & Zion is the Same Shiat! And there is nothing Sunni about them either???!

And did you know in Arabic the word 'MANIAC' or it's varient , means 'Homo-Sexual'???! But in Yidish, not Hebrew , is called a 'Fagallae'! Ya Ya!

halozcel:

Victoria/Merve K.
Hamas militant,the girl of Republic and agent-provocator as Suleiman Demirel said.

You failed to graduate *Medical College*,probably *kafan basmadi* as Tayyip says(that means your intelligence level and capability not enough to understand)
You called *Holy War* at IAP in Chicago.

Islam is not *spiritual path*,it is a *holy war* as you say.Can you speak in the name of American women although you are a *American citizen*.

VICTORIA:

poor misguided misogynist anonymous-

has so little respect for american women he cant imagine we can think for ourselves, and choose our own spiritual path without being guided by some man somewhere-

Anonymous:

Ms Taylor, the relationship between your marriage and conversion to Islam would be interesting to read about.

Anonymous:

Ms Taylor wrote, 'My children's classes, in contrast have included units on a variety of religions -- Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism in particular.'

Wow! And that is how education has been in the US schools? Since when?

Anonymous:

If a person ties his shoe lace in a certain way in a country ruled by Muslims, then it becomes the Islamic way to tie shoelaces.

Anonymous:

Ms Taylor do write about the Islamic culture of African countries.

Isn't it interesting that Islam identifies only with the culture of countries which had highly advanced pre-Islamic cultures.

Any great achievement of the peoples living in a country ruled by Muslims becomes automatically Islamic, no matter that the peoples achieved them long before Muslims arrived. It is akin to immigrant Americans referring to the culture of the native American Indians and anything done by anybody in the land as Christian because the rulers happen to practice Christianity as their religion.

Paganplace:

"The sum balance, I believe, makes it one of the best times to be a minority in America."


As long as you say 'God.'

Anonymous:

UNITED NATIOS should set up a commission to study

the problems of minorities in third world

countries.

Concerned The Christian Now Liberated:

I can see it now, Eboo, Moody, Rudy, Victoria, Mischka and the Obfuscating Jihadist marching in the St. Patrick's Day parade clothed in bright green thawbs and heads topped with blazing green hijabs and flawed korans in their arms shouting "Death to Infidels, Christians and Jews". Let us hope this never happens but as followers of the flawed koran, they visualize it in their brainwashed minds out of necessity to fulfill their koranic dreams.

Anon:

Islam was not a theocracy, no matter Muslims sought political rule everywhere they went. When Spain was ruled by Muslims everything that the natives of Spain did was Islamic, including the pre-Islamic culture.

Anon:

Ms Taylor usually writes to display her essay and fiction writing skills, and to blow her own trumpet. Try the word megalomania and see if it fits her description.

Anonymous:

Ms Taylor usually writes to display her essay and fiction writing skills and to blow her own trumpet. Megalomania is one word to describe it.

Sari:

What does this have to do with Jewish identity? Ms. Taylor, you should attempt to keep your writing on the topic at hand. I feel upset that we have a thread about Jewish identity and one of the writers chooses to write about her conversion to Islam. If it were a discussion of Muslim identity and someone started writing about their conversion to Judaism, would you feel offended?

Thank you for mentioning that Jews were able to live freely under Muslim rule in Spain. In Iran, Morocco, and Iraq, Jews were second class citizens but they were not persecuted with massacres as they were in Europe. They could live and go to school and practice their faith. They did not live in fear. Ottoman rule was overall kind to the Jewish minority living there. They lived under the millet system as did Christians, which allowed them religious and educational self-governance.

However, we must face the facts that Muslim rule has not always been kind to the Jews. In Syria, it was against the law to employ Jews. Therefore, they either had to start their own businesses or they had to rely on charity. Jordan expelled all Jews from its borders following its establishment as an independent nation in the 40s. In the saddest and most egregious case, the Yemeni authorities would seize Jewish babies and give them to Muslim families to have them raised as Muslims.

Anonymous:

Please Pre-Apocalyptarians; Cast Out All Your Religious Jealous Psychosis.

Go APOCALYPTIC SOCIETY & Never will there ever be such a thing as a "Minority via some ancient religion"!

Let go, Let Go, Let go, Of your Pre-Apocalyptic "Super-Stupid-Stitiopus" Mad Made & Zero E*C*L*A*T + "i" made genuine PHILOSOPHY via IT's NEW-SONG, comming from all O.U.R. oldy's but goody's !

DO NOT BE in DENIAL, to yourselves nor to Others!

Henry James:

interesting post, Pamela Taylor

and directly relevent to the question at hand.

thank you.

Yakub Yoziv On: The ELEVEN Fiats of the Holy Cosmic NEW-SONG:

Mahabaar me Sweet Sistar(s) T A Y L O R, Brethren(s), et al;

Note: "i" am attaching a little excerpt of Mr. Berlnerblau's Blog Today.

Before i continue. Interestingly i managed to find a special & rare book, aka "A GEM' so to speaketh. But , after examination i attest IT's like finding a STAR Rubi Saphire MINE, so to speaketh.!

IT is entitled:

ISLAM:
Aource and
Purpose of
Knowledge.

By: I.I.I.T. I.nternational I.nstitute of I.slamic T.hought. Series #5, 1409 through 1401 AH (Islam Calandate) or 1988 AC throgh 1981.
ISBN=0-912463-20-1.

Note: This is a Hard & Rare book, in Original LIMITED Beautifull (artsy) addition. But IT will take me another Six Month, inshalla (G-d Willing) to crack It Open via the use of ECLATi-ON CRUXOLOGY ability's & via BIOMENTALITY Powers that "i" will unleash or Expose the Riddles of the JINN/SATAN/DEVIL/KALi therein & thereof!


Otherwise This book is a 'Secret" expose what all of ISLAM should have Heard! Yet with this book (TRUTH, Opposite of MYTH) Islam can still save themselves somewhat!

There are some Religio Medicines for All whom Seek It, therein , but only if any Islamic who wants to embrace ALLAH's-WORK further there! [This Good Book, written by Accident].

-------------------------

BEHOLD saeth the Holy Eponymous ECLAT+i=LIFE/PHOTONS:

WE are ALL "SON(s) & DAUGHTER(s) of the Not-Jealous & thus Fearles HOLY-NO-MAN Lord/G-D/Allah/YWH/Ishvara/ eponymous-ECLATi, Creator of O.U.R. Holy MIRACULOUS [Zero-SIN/Curse] "F*i*A*T--L*U*X"!

WHEREFORE: Under the "Holy Cosmic Feeler(s) Faith", a beliefe like a Religion, but much BETTER, You are Commanded To Magnify, Make Honorable & Uphold,

The Eclati-On's "O.ne U.niversal R.eligion Book Of TRANSFINITY", aka "OUR-BOT".

Hear Ye Hear Ye,

Hear O' Sweet sweet AMERICA, the LORD is TRULY ONE!

BEHOLD: For the Lord via the MELCHIZEDEK PEACE BLESSING & whom hath Reverseth ALL/EVERY/ANY of the Moses, Jesus, Muhhamad, Vyasa, Gautama's WARE-BLESSINGS & the Curses thereof & therein & therefrom! There is No Denial! No Escape!

Thus saith the Holy No-mon Lord G-d Eponymous ECLATi:

"Keep for your Space-Ship's Inhabitants and ALL ye Humate Kind MEMETICALs, Hear O' Sweet sweet U.S. of A., these "ELEVEN-FIATS-of-THE-NEW-SONG" that "I" give "i" (thy Creature Kinds) HUMATE Frontal-Lobe KINDs:

HARK MON! For "I" your Zero-Jealous & Thus Fearless A*L*L*M*i*G*H*T*Y , the Holy Cosmic No-Mon Lord EPONYMOUS-Eclat Creator of O.U.R. FiAT-LUX.

COMMANDETH:

1) "Let there be NO Worship of JEALOUSY as a G-D.!"

2) "Let there be NO Abuse of LOVE to forgive UNCORRECTED-SIN(s)!"

3) "Let there be NO Hassling over a NAME for G-d!"
4) "Let there be NO Denial of FREEDOM OF ECLATi-ON RELIGION!"

5) "Let there be NO Dishonoring of HONORABLE Parents!"

6) "Let there be NO Unjustifiable HOMICIDE or HURTING!"

7) "Let there be NO Sex with Non-CONSENTERS or BEASTS!"

8) "Let there be NO Theft from NON-THIEVES or NON-USERERS!"

9) "Let there be NO False WITNESSING or Un-JUST Judging!"

10) "Let there be NO Envy of HUMATES or Folks keeping these FIATS of O.U.R. NEW-SONG!"

11) "Let there be NO Procrastination nor LAZYNESS!"

THUS SAETH The Holy No-Mon:

"Write theses upon your HEDs, Not your Hearts, not Guts.

Let "IT" ["ECLAT+i" awareness] IT be Thought,

Let IT be Said,

Let IT be Written,

Let IT be DONE, here on O.U.R. Sweet Sweet Space-Ship Momma Poppa EARTH...!"

VOTE for : Gridarian Democracy & Transfinite Civilization!

VOTE: For an APOCALYPTARIAN-NATION Now!


Hallaluja! Praise the Holy No-Man Creator of O.U.R. Miracle in Motion Zero-Sin FIAT-LUX! Ya!

Jim:

I think the author has some valid points, but there is little creditability here. All she has managed to do is establish that she is incapable of actually writing a relevant response toward the topic and prove her own ignorance.

I know education systems vary, but if she did not realize that were Muslims in Spain, I think she drew the short stick. Read a book. She obviously was in a coma during her Spanish history studies.

VICTORIA:

salaams jihadist-
you're right- from a political POV america divides itself much more strongly identity wise along red and blue (conservative and liberal- but im sure you knew that)delineations than religious ones.

ps- everyone in america is irish on st. patricks day!
(although honestly ive avoided the party for many years- ive had enough green beer thrown up on me to last the rest of my life) and, as you know, im irish so go figure

Anonymous:

Jihadist, unfortunately your view about orthodox Muslims having more in common with orthodox Muslims is true only in your fantasy. Orthodox Jews would beg to differ. You seem to have forgotten that in Mohammad's day Jews and Muslims mixed like oil and water. Three Jewish tribes were put to the sword by Mohammad himself. It highly unlikely that it was done because they had the most in common.

Jihadist:

Anonymous,

I thought Imam Pamela Taylor wrote an interesting essay of one person's journey to acknowledge the sources of her identity, including as a member of a religious minority, and reconciling that with the national identity of being American.

Of course her essay has relevance as the question on what is a "Jewish identity" is also one of interest and being experienced by other religious and ethnic minorities living in the United States - the question of a heritage and past identity being forged in the new world from the old world and old interpretations of faith giving way to new ones.

All ethnic or religious minorities in the US, not just Jewish Americans, are asking how much, how little they are giving up, will have to give up, or how to reconcile in being both American and still be Jewish or Muslim.

Are Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans, Christian Americans, atheist Americans, Hindu Americans, Buddhist Americans, Pagan Americans etc any less American than the other for being Jewish or Hindu or Muslim? For living by their belief, their traditions and heritage in their private life and in the public square?

Want to do away with say, St Patrick's Day's parade? Are the participants and revelers, who are not all Irish and Catholics, any less American or less Jewish and Muslim for wearing green and having fun on that day too?

Personally, in the United States, I think Orthodox American Jews have more in common with conservative or traditional American Muslims than they do with Reformed Jews or secular and cultural Jews.

Thanks and regards
"J"

Anonymous:

how does this deal with or address the question at hand? Jewish American?

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On Faith is an interactive conversation on religion moderated by Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. It is produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com, as is PostGlobal, a conversation on international affairs. Please send your comments, questions and suggestions for On Faith to editor and producer David Waters.