Christianity and Islam - What Religious Differences Mean in Everyday Life

Danville, CA (PRWeb) December 4, 2006 -- Catholics@Work, a fellowship of individuals who explore how to actively live one's beliefs in the workplace, (http://www.catholicsatwork.org), today announced its December 2006 breakfast meeting will feature James A. Donahue, PhD, President at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) (http://www.gtu.edu/), Berkeley, CA. Dr. Donahue will share his perspectives on the complicated and highly charged relationship between Christians and Muslims in today's world. This will not be an academic exercise in theological similarities and difference, but rather an up close and personal look at the difference between people in their everyday lives. He will discuss both sides of the issue and provide practical insight into how we, as individuals, in a truly multicultural world can live our Christian values in a way that is constructive rather than destructive.

The Catholics@Work breakfast event will be held at Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville, CA 94526 on Tuesday, December 12, 2006. A full buffet breakfast is served starting at 7:00am (Mass is offered at 6:30am at the same location.) Cost is $20 for members and $27 for non-members. To register visit http://www.catholicsatwork.org/EventDesc.aspx.

"The media coverage of the past few years has placed a magnifying glass on Islam giving rise to a new vocabulary that includes the terms Islamic fascism, radical Christianity. This rhetoric fuels unstable situations, and influences moderates on both sides of the debate to begin to lean towards the more radical perspective of their side," said James A. Donahue, PhD, president and professor of Ethics at the Graduate Theological Union. "The Christian perspectives versus the Islamic perspectives as viewed through the prism of the small but highly vocal segment of extremist on both sides and the tendency of news media to cover the "ugly" side of the news, masks the reality that on fundamental principles -- Christians and Muslims have a lot in common!"

The world is changing around us, and the dynamics of this change are being significantly influenced by the interrelationships between religious cultures. Any great change brings great challenges. Under Dr. Donahue's leadership, and with a growing media presence and recognition for the breadth and excellence of its scholarship, the GTU as a community of scholars is embracing its role as a public voice in an interreligious world.

"Dr. Donahue is touching on something that is important to all of us, regardless of religious beliefs," said Tom Platner, president of Catholics@Work. "Because of the multi-cultural influences that are predominant in the San Francisco Bay Area, everyone should make time to listen to Dr. Donahue, and learn from the practical insights he will provide on how to become a constructive force in the face of today's current realities."

Dr. Donahue is the co-author of Ethics Across the Curriculum: A Practice-based Approach (Lexington Books, 2003), and the co-editor of Religion, Ethics and the Common Good (Twenty-Third Publications, 1996). His current book project involves religious identity in a multicultural world.

The seventh president of the GTU, Dr. Donahue is the first GTU alumnus to serve in this position. Before returning to the GTU in 2000, Dr. Donahue served as professor of theology and ethics, dean of students and vice president of student affairs at Georgetown University for fifteen years. He has also held faculty and administrative positions at Boston College and Santa Clara University. Dr. Donahue has served as an ethics consultant to various organizations, including the Levi Strauss Corporation, the Department of Defense, and the Catholic Health Association.

About Catholics@Work
Catholics@Work is committed to fostering fellowship and connectivity among Catholics facing the realities of life in today's workplace environment. The monthly breakfast gatherings are a unique opportunity for Catholics to:
• grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith,
• be encouraged to apply the principals of their faith in the everyday workplace,
• and, to network with other Catholic business professionals.

The breakfast series is held at Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville, California, on the second Tuesday of the month seven times per year (April-June, September-December). The event starts with a buffet breakfast followed by a speaker or panel discussion and runs from 7:00-8:30am. The event offers a great way to network with people who look for purpose and leadership in their lives. There is time prior to the beginning of each speaker's presentation to interact with other attendees, to share faith, and business and personal information. Mass is offered at 6:30am for those who wish to attend before breakfast at the same location. Managed by Catholic business professionals, Catholics@Work breakfast events are open to all, regardless of faith or occupation, who want to explore the issues of actively living one's beliefs in the workplace.

For more information visit http://www.catholicsatwork.org or call +1 925-389-0704.

Catholics@Work is a trademark of Catholics@Work. All other brand and product names are registered trademarks, trademarks or servicemarks of their respective holders and are gratefully acknowledged. All specifications subject to change without notice.

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