MUNCIE - There were many differences among the 100 people inside the Muncie Community Center Tuesday night. But somehow Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Christians found a way to sing together, clap together, and praise their gods together.
The Muncie Interfaith Roundtable event was the first time in recent yearsthat members of such varied religions in Muncie had gathered to share their beliefs and feelings about current events.
This time they had good reason to meet.
Although the beliefs among their faiths were very different, religious leaders found out Tuesday night that their beliefs about what happened Sept. 11 were very similar.
"It's sad that it took such a thing to bring us all together," said A. Faiz Rahman, a Ball State University professor active in the local Islamic community. "We should have come together long before Sept. 11."
The roundtable was similar to a church service. A representative from each of the nine religions present spoke and gave a sermon-like presentation on their faith and feelings about Sept. 11.
Then participants sang, joined in a litany and discussed their feelings about faith.
Event organizers said they want to make the roundtable a regular meeting.
"After Sept. 11, we felt all faiths needed an opportunity to come together," said Thomas Perchlik, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Muncie. "It just took this long to organize it."