Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A new Mississippi State group is stressing the importance of inter-group contact and continuing communication to help varied university and community constituencies address political extremism, terrorism and other troubling world issues.
The Interfaith Dialog Student Association is devoted "to improving interactions between students of all religions and providing a forum for shared experiences."
Toward that end, Serkan Caliskan, a visiting assistant physics professor and the group's adviser, said the IDSA membership, in collaboration with several other local groups, has begun sponsoring interfaith dinners and picnics, as well as more formal visits to houses of worship.
"We believe there's a tremendous benefit in learning from others," added Turkish native Arif Volkan Vural, IDSA's vice president. "Especially after 9/11, there were many misconceptions about Islam, which is a faith of peace."
Through religious and social activities, the association "believes those of different faiths and cultural backgrounds can find a common ground," Vural said.
The MSU group is affiliated with the national Institute for Interfaith Dialog, a Houston, Texas-based nonprofit organization that promotes the study of world religions.
For more information about MSU's Interfaith Dialog Student Association, e-mail Caliskan at sc530@msstate.edu.