Reminder: Aga Khan Film - Toronto Screening - Apr 30th

Dear All

At a time when Islam is seen by many as a monolith and often associated with extremism, this is the film that offers a counterbalance showing a pluralistic and tolerant side of the Muslim World through the story and life journey of His Highness the Aga Khan, a descendant of Prophet Muhammad.

AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE is the first documentary to look at answering who are the Ismailis Muslims? Who is their Imam Aga Khan IV? And how can we bridge the Muslim World - non-Muslim World divide? Are we facing a Clash of Civilizations or are we facing a Clash of Ignorance?

With exclusive access to the Aga Khan and a rare interview with him, AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis is the film that needed to be made.

Join us at 7PM, Apr 30th at York University (Location: Vari Hall A, York University, Toronto - See Map Here.) There will also be a post-screening discussion with Producer/Co-Director Shamir Allibhai.

Best wishes

Aga Khan Film team

Watch the trailer: http://www.agakhanfilm.org

Join us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/theShamir
Follow the blog: http://agakhanfilm.blogspot.com

AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis

Directors: Jane Chablani & Bill Cran

Producer/Co-Director: Shamir Allibhai

Born into a world of wealth and privilege, the Aga Khan devotes his life to eliminating poverty and inequality. A religious leader who traces his ancestry back to the Prophet Muhammad, he struggles to balance the traditional with the modern.

For the past five decades, the Aga Khan has been the spiritual leader and Imam of the 15 million Ismaili Muslims in a world that has changed dramatically. From the end of colonialism and the expulsion of the Asians in Uganda to the fall of the Iron Curtain and 9/11, the Aga Khan has struggled for a common humanity in a divided world.

At a time when Islam is at odds with itself and with the West, the Aga Khan represents a voice of moderation, speaking out for pluralism and diversity, and promoting dialogue between civilizations.

But will he be heard?

Constantine's Sword: a focus on Christian Antisemitism

I was presenting at a Harvard board meeting a few weeks ago and found out about this film, Constantine's Sword, a story on James Carroll, a former Catholic priest on a journey to confront his past and uncover the roots of religiously-inspired violence and war. His search also reveals a growing scandal involving religious infiltration of the U.S. military and the terrible consequences of religion’s influence on America’s foreign policy. http://constantinessword.com

I watched it last night and thought it was great. The film looks at antisemitism in Carroll's own tradition, Christianity. A thoughtful, balanced piece that does not shy away from the tragic past and asking the tough questions of the day on this issue.

Some memorable quotes:

"What planet are you on? If you want to make religion a constructive force in society, religions must begin with a honest admission of those moments when they haven't been a constructive force; when they have been a deconstructive force."
Priest John Pawlikowski, President of the International Council of Christians & Jews

"What frustrates me to no end is when religious leaders get up and give the impression that religion has always been on the side of good and virtue. It hasn't. Let's be honest."
Priest John Pawlikowski, President of the International Council of Christians & Jews

"Every religious person has to take responsibility for the way in which their tradition encourages intolerance, suspicion, hatred of the other..."
James Carroll, Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at Suffolk University. Carroll’s new book, Practicing Catholic, will be published in the Spring of 2009.

These quotes really hit home for me as I thought about my own religion and my own tradition. Not just the past but what is going on today, right now. I also thought how the "other", as Carroll refers to above, is not just people of other religions but often times those within the same religious community but who have "other" views or "other" ways of seeing the same scenario.

Toronto Screening - Apr 30, 2009!

Dear All

We are excited to announce that the acclaimed documentary AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE will be screening in Toronto on April 30, 2009. Please see the details below:

Screening: AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis

Date: Thursday, April 30, 2009 - 7PM - 10PM

Location: Vari Hall, York University, Toronto - See Map Here.

Host: York University Ismaili Students Association

The film is 1 hour long and there will a post-screening discussion with Filmmaker/Producer Shamir Allibhai.

We hope to see you there!

Aga Khan Film team

Buy the DVD

Follow the Blog

AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE

Born into a world of wealth and privilege, the Aga Khan devotes his life to eliminating poverty and inequality. A religious leader who traces his ancestry back to the Prophet Muhammad, he struggles to balance the traditional with the modern.

For the past five decades, the Aga Khan has been the spiritual leader and Imam of the 15 million Ismaili Muslims in a world that has changed dramatically. From the end of colonialism and the expulsion of the Asians in Uganda to the fall of the Iron Curtain and 9/11, the Aga Khan has struggled for a common humanity in a divided world.

Securing a rare and exclusive interview with the Aga Khan in the year of his Golden Jubilee, Bill Cran (multiple Emmy-award winning Director) and Shamir Allibhai have completed a two-year passion project to make the first documentary on the Aga Khan in over forty-five years.

At a time when Islam is at odds with itself and with the West, the Aga Khan represents a voice of moderation, speaking out for pluralism and diversity, and promoting dialogue between civilizations.

But will he be heard?