Visit to the exposition “Islam: this is our history as well”

SVTBKultuur’s department Leopoldsburg/ Hechtel-Eksel brought together its member from Beringen for the exposition “Islam: dit is ook onze geschiedenis” (Islam is also part of our history) in Brussels. On 11 November, the students explored this instructive exposition.

The exposition did not only show that Christian and Islamic civilizations had the same spiritual and intellectual roots (heritage from the Arabic religions), but also that because of their contact, although sometimes through conflict, they have influenced each other tremendously. Both religions share a history, with both positive aspects (contact, artistic inspiration, mutual influence) and negative aspects (conflicts, borders, integration problems).

The exposition guided the visitor through four periods and three legacies: the Arabic legacy coming from the medieval Europe, the Ottoman legacy, the colonial legacy, Europe and the muslims in current times.

The guided tour took place in “mixed” groups. In the beginning, the contacts between the participants were rather exploratory. However, towards the end everyone considered the experiment a great success and most of the students would participate in such an initiative again. They left the exhibition with a more realistic and positive perspective on both religions.