As Ramadan begins around the world, President Obama extended his greetings on behalf of the American people today. Check out the video message here.
Obama said many of the rituals of Ramadan – like fasting and praying — are a reminder of the common principles that people of different faiths share. “Fasting is a concept shared by many faiths including my own Christian faith as a way to bring people closer to God and to those among us who cannot take their next meal for granted,” he said.
Do you think your faith is similar to other faiths? How? Are the similarities greater than the differences?
Alexandra Abboud has five years experience reporting on the legal and cultural dynamics that shape American society. At America.gov, she manages coverage of cultural diversity, the arts, education and sports. Abboud has also served as a managing editor of the State Department's eJournal USA series, producing internationally circulated publications on innovation and fighting corruption.
Comments (1)
Vision Board
Location: USA and India
29 August 2009 at 08:32 EDT
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I believe fasting can actually create more peace in a society.
I fast twice a year for spiritual purposes and one thing is for sure, after the initial upset feelings of emptiness, I end up feeling a deep calmness within myself and it’s noticable by others.
It’s most likely similar to other belief systems and I do agree that it brings us closer to God.
I’m glad President Obama can acknowledge the other cultures beliefs on a wide scale. This will definitely bring us closer together as a planet.
Thanks,
Visoin board Max