Islam – Religion in America Lecture Series

Religion in America – Islam

As one of the largest religions in the world, Islam teaches that human beings have a moral obligation to live in harmony with one another. Islam also requires Muslims to show respect and tolerance even to those who do not share their faith. Teachings of Islam which are being shared by over a 1.5 billion Muslims are unfortunately overshadowed by the acts of a very small number of extremists.

As a monotheistic religion, Islam has many similarities but also has some differences with Judaism and Christianity. In this presentation, you will have the chance to learn about the basic beliefs and pillars of Islam as well as some rules that guide every Muslim’s daily life.

About our speaker:  Osman Oztoprak has been involved in Turkish-American Community’s affairs since 2001. He played an active role in the founding of many Turkish American intercultural and interfaith organizations in New York and New Jersey area. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey. He received his M.Ed. degree in Education from Rutgers University in 2002 and MA degree in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University in NJ in 2012.  He is currently working as the Managing Director of the Alliance for Shared Values, Inc., a New York-based non-profit umbrella organization dedicated to promoting community service, education, and intercultural understanding.