The Clash of Ignorance

Is there a “clash of civilizations” in the world?

This term was introduced in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to convey the idea that the West and the Muslim Middle East are natural enemies doomed to a constant state of conflict.

The documentary Out of Cordoba: Averroes and Maimonides in Their Time and Ours, which screened at Portland State’s Lincoln Hall Saturday, explores this “clash” by examining a time in history when Christians, Jews and Muslims actually lived in harmony.

“How tragic that when we look around today, the spirit of coexistence has been replaced by war and hostility in the name of religion,” filmmaker Jacob Bender observed.

Bender travelled to Spain, Morocco, France, Egypt, Palestine and Israel, tracing the steps of the two great philosophers Averroes and Maimonides. Although Averroes was a Muslim and Maimonides a Jew, the pair held similar ideas about religions peacefully co-existing. Their optimistic outlook perhaps resulted from living in medieval Cordoba, Spain, a bustling center of innovation in which Christians, Jews and Muslims were free to share ideas and learn from one another.

“There is no clash of civilizations between the Muslim world and the West,” André Azoulay once said, while serving as senior advisor to King Mohammed VI of Morocco.” There is only a clash of ignorance.

Wherever Bender went, he found that the teachings of Averroes and Maimonides are still strongly influential. Rather than present a biography of the philosophers, the documentary examines their connection to the modern world.

“I made a decision early on that the film would not stay in the Middle Ages,” Bender explained. “The necessity of this film was to bridge the gap between past and present.”

Bender participated in a post-screening discussion panel with Rabbi Daniel Isaak of the Portland congregation Neveh Shalom.

“I fell in love with this film. It is a wonderful sermon about a world we would like to create,” Isaak said. “We must all contribute to it. If we leave things up to the extremists, we are lost.”

Other panelists included Rev. Patricia Ross, retired senior minister of the Portland First Congregational United Church of Christ, and Mr. Jawad Khan, a teacher at the Oregon Islamic Academy.

“I felt gratitude for the beauty of the places shown in the film,” Ross said. “It spoke to me.”

She joked that she was also glad the film glossed over some parts of Christian history. Indeed, the documentary could have delved into some rather uncomfortable areas for all of the religions on display.

“Monotheism is intolerance. It proposes that ‘I have the right answer,’” Isaak argued. “It motivates many people to this day. That’s what we have to fight against.” Khan disagreed with the Rabbi’s condemnation.

“They [in Cordoba] were able to establish their individual truths but still coexist,” Kahn replied. “They were able to say, ‘I know the path to truth, but I can still coexist with you while you search for your own truth.’”

Despite the controversial subject matter, the tone of the film is hopeful.

“If there is even a brief amount of time of a harmonious relationship, it proves that it can be done,” Kahn said. “It gives hope to everyone and can rekindle hopes and idealism.”

“These ideas disappear but never get lost,” Isaak added. “The ideas don’t die, and that’s what’s so vitally important.” Bender agrees.

“Since making the film…I’ve discovered the growth of small interfaith groups across the country,” he said. “They came about naturally by people who have friends in other communities.”

In fact, as the film’s production developed, it “began to mirror the message of the film itself,” Bender said.

At first, the filmmakers had to struggle for funds. The original plan was to complete the film in only a few years, but it ended up taking nine years. The funding that finally came to the rescue was from an even balance of Jewish, Christian and Muslim sources.

“That coming together of the different faiths became a mini Cordoba on its own,” Bender said.

Out of Cordoba is the first film in Portland State’s Middle East Studies Center Film Series of the 2011–12 school year. The next film is Slingshot Hip Hop, which will be screened Friday, Nov. 4.