Two American sheiks have formed a Muslim seminary:
Sheik Hamza Yusuf, in a groomed goatee and sports jacket, looked more like a hip white college professor than a Middle Eastern sheik. Imam Zaid Shakir, a lanky African-American in a long brown tunic, looked as if he would fit in just fine on the streets of Damascus.
U.S. Muslim Clerics Seek a Modern Middle Ground By LAURIE GOODSTEIN, New York Times, Published: June 18, 2006
The story goes on about how the two each understand both Islam and U.S. popular culture. Judging by the examples, they also understand both Islamic and Christian religious history. It continues:
Continue readingMr. Yusuf told the audience in Houston to beware of "fanatics" who pluck Islamic scripture out of context and say, "We’re going to tell you what God says on every single issue."
"That’s not Islam," Mr. Yusuf said. "That’s psychopathy."