The religious community will come together at a public forum to

address the tragic events that hit New York and Washington, D.C.

from a variety of viewpoints.

“Where was God on September 11?” will be at 7:30 tonight in the

Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

David Hunter, professor of philosophy and religious studies, said

the talks are important for a number of reasons.

“Obviously, tragedies and human suffering of this magnitude

provoke religious questions, so it’s important that there be

reflections on these questions from religious leaders,” said

Hunter, a participant in the discussion.

He said the nature of the attack merits discussion from religious

leaders to allow them to say they don’t accept the behavior of the

terrorists.

“I think this has been provoked by a certain kind of religious

fanaticism, and I think it’s important that various religious

traditions respond to that,” Hunter said.

In addition, the forum participants include David Staff, pastor at

First Evangelical Free Church; Peter Pintus, a member of the

Jewish community in central Iowa; Ihab el-Kady, member of the

Muslim Student Association; and Vicky Curtis, pastor at Collegiate

Presbyterian Church.

Whitney Sanford, assistant professor of religious studies, will

moderate the dialogue.

John Donaghy, campus minister at St. Thomas Aquinas Church,

and Fritz Wehrenberg, campus pastor at the University Lutheran

Congregation and Student Center, organized the event.

“I e-mailed Fritz and said we ought to do something in terms of an

interface response to the events,” Donaghy said.

He said the ISU Committee on Lectures, funded by the

Government of the Student Body, is helping with promotion.

Hunter said it will promote interreligious communication.

“I think it would be good for Christians to understand the Jewish,

Muslim or Hindu point of view,” he said.

“It might also help people to understand their own tradition better.”