Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central Asia

UGRAD Student Attends Conference on Muslim-Christian Understanding

Maksatbek Damir Uulu wanted to explore ways to foster positive interaction between Muslims and Christians while studying in the United States. His chance came when he was invited to participate in the conference "Christians and Muslims Together: Owning Our Pasts – Visioning the Future," sponsored by the Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Damir Uulu is originally from the village of Tyup in Kyrgyzstan, and he attends the Kyrgyz Agrarian University in Bishkek. He is currently studying economics at Wartburg College in Waterloo, IA as part of the UGRAD program.

The conference included workshops and speeches by noted religious scholars. Although Damir Uulu grew up as a Muslim, the conference gave him new perspectives on his own religion. Sessions forced participants to grapple with difficult issues such as the relationship between Islam and democracy and the role of women in Muslim societies.  It also gave participants the opportunity to examine ways that religion can contribute to peace rather than violence.

Damir Uulu was strongly impacted by the conference, stating of his experience, "It left me with a greater understanding of and compassion for people of other religions."

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