Bos Al-Mukhaini

Muslims and Christians have a lot in common, and some are coming together to talk about their similarities.

"The future that we can expect is interconnected and interdependent," says Michael Bos, an American Christian and director of the AlAmana Centre in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

"We do too much talking about each other and not enough talking with each other," he said at a forum on Islam and the Future of the Middle East at the Center for Interfaith Reconciliation at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.

Appearing with Bos on Wednesday was his colleague Ahmed Al-Mukhaini, an Omani Muslim who is an adviser on religion and civic life to the ruling Council of Oman. They work on interfaith issues together.

"Talk about what you need to do together," Al-Mukhaini said. "I think a lot of people forget about God," he added, saying that when people remember God, they create action to do good.

Al-Mukhaini's talk focused on the basics of Islam, especially Muslims in Oman, while Bos focused on being an American Christian living in Oman and the religious and ethnic diversity in the region.

"The thing I wanted people to see was the friendship they had," said the Rev. William Sachs, director of the Center for Interfaith Reconciliation. "That's something you have to see in action. You can't put that into words."

Annette Khan of Midlothian, a board member of the Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond, attended after hearing about the event from her local Islamic Center.

"You can tell that they really love each other," Khan said of the speakers, "that they're not just onstage and being polite."

Khan said she thinks some of the audience were already knowledgeable about Islam and were there to learn more, but others had their eyes opened.

As a grass-roots activist. Khan says she has hope for the future.

"If the people get together, we don't have to rely on the managers and bosses," she said.

Bos said he and Al-Mukhaini didn't know what to expect from the audience of about 140, roughly half from St. Stephen's, but "it was nice to see such a diversity of people."

Al-Mukhaini said he was worried that people may not know how to ask questions about Islam for fear of being offensive. "Maybe after tonight, they will go and develop more questions."

Sachs said other activities at the center include joint Muslim-Christian relation projects in Richmond, as well as groups that go to parts of the Middle East including Oman, Qatar and Jordan.

"The vast majority of people want to live in peace," Sachs said. "With extremists on both sides, the challenge of coming together is a greater challenge."

Contact Sarah Alfaham at (804) 649-6435 or salfaham@timesdispatch.com.