This is a fictional story of a Muslim woman and a Christian man, who faced with the conflict and strife between Christianity and Islam decide to look deeper into their respective belief systems. They find them petrified in thought systems of ages past, and incapable of the necessary reforms to resolve the conflicts, and reason their way to break with their spiritual traditions and make a commitment to build new lives of faith, openness, tolerance, understanding, curiosity, love, and harmony with the Creator and all creation.
The story told in this book is a modern morality tale that addresses religious intolerance epitomized by the conflict between Christianity and Islam. This conflict has been going on intermittently since the first crusade at the end of the 11th century, but has become uppermost in our minds ever since the tragic events of September 11, the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the many terrorist attacks around theworld. History is quite clear as to the bellicose aspects of both Christianity and Islam, and we may be experiencing a prolonged flareup of strife between these arch-enemies.
Against the background of these troubled times, the two characters in the story, a Muslim woman and a Christian man, take time out to explore the root cause of this millennium-old strife, and why they as children of the same Creator belong to belief systems that articulate worldviews, which are bitterly opposed to each other. They pledge, at least for their part, not to recycle this age-old bitterness that neither Christianity nor Islam seems to be capable of resolving. They explore the foundations of their respective belief systems, projectthemselves outside the Islamic and Christian boxes that they have been packaged in so as to see their lives more objectively, and conclude thatthey need to travel a different road if they are to contribute to building a world that is a fitting habitat for all of the Creator’s children.
Excerpt
It is 5.15 pm in the GreenWise Market section in the Publix grocery store on Hoffner Road, Lakeland, Florida. Peter Francis Silver takes a package of Organic Kamut Flakes off the Natural and Organic Cereal section and places it in his cart. There is an envelope resting on top of the loaf of Union Rye bread that he had put in the cart a few paces back.
He picks up the envelope looking around to see where it came from, for he was sure that it was not there a few moments earlier. He is alone. The
envelope has a handwritten note on the outside that says simply:
“Please open and read.” He looks around again to see who might have slipped it into his cart, but sees no likely suspect. He opens the envelope, takes out the neatly folded page, and reads:
“Dear Reader (sorry, I do not know your name), Please give this note your serious consideration. I have been observing you for some weeks as you came to this Publix each Friday between 5.15 and 5.30 pm to shop for the weekend groceries. From what you buy, I have concluded that you are a bachelor. I like your choices in food and in cereal, and my intuition leads me to believe I would also like other choices you make.
I am single and 29, and I am a Muslim woman looking for a life partner, who is not a Muslim. My intuition tells
me you are a Christian and may also be looking for a life partner. If you are interested in exploring the possibility of partnering for life, please call this number ***-***-****between 7 and 8 pm to night or to-morrow night. When
you hold the number under a lamp, the phone number will show.
I look forward to hearing from you.”
Tahira Ahmad
Yankee Doodle Daddy is a historical Appalachian Family Saga. The story follows a mother's reckoning as she struggles to survive and keep her four daughters alive.
