Muslims for Progressive Values holds 8th Annual Retreat–Islam for Critical Thinkers

NEW YORK - Aug. 14, 2014 - PRLog -- New York, NY – Muslims for Progressive Values (http://www.mpvusa.org/) (MPV) is pleased to announce the Eighth Annual National Retreat -- Islam for Critical Thinkers on August 30th in New York.

MPV is a leading progressive voice on contemporary, and often controversial, issues facing Muslim-American communities.  It is the only American movement that advocates for egalitarian expressions of Islam, for women, and for LGBTQI rights.  MPV does this by creating inclusive spaces for religious discourse, the arts, and social activism.

This year, MPV's New York chapter is organizing the one-day event at the Metropolitan Community Church of New York featuring panels on topics including “Freedom of Speech and Blasphemy Laws in Islam,” and “Critical Analysis and Interpretation: Scripture for the Liberal Muslim.”

“At MPV we don’t accept the old traditional patriarchal interpretations of Islam as ‘absolute truth,’” says MPV President and Founder Ani Zonneveld. “We are instead offering a theology of inclusivity, critical thinking rooted in Islamic traditions as an alternative to the theology of hate, intolerance, misogyny and homophobia.”

The event also offers a panel discussion on "Child Marriage in America and Beyond." Often times forced or child marriage is seen as a problem in poor societies "over there," while in reality a national survey (http://www.tahirih.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/RE...) indicates that there are over 3,000 cases in the United States. In conversation with Sauti Yeti (http://www.sautiyetu.org/), MPV hopes to raise awareness around this issue so as to mobilize a change in the marriage age for girls in America to 18.

In the realm of the arts, MPV is a strong supporter for freedom of expression, particularly by female Muslim performers. In that spirit, the retreat will end the day with musical performances by Omnia and Leila Hegazy.

For a list of panels, speakers and to register visit: http://goo.gl/OPMPT4.

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Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) is a 501 (c) (3) founded in 2007.  MPV asserts that Islam is inherently progressive, inclusive and egalitarian which is an understanding that informs the ten principles by which the organization is guided. Since its inception, MPV has expanded to include chapter and affiliates in Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, Atlanta and Columbus as well as in Canada, France, Chile, Australia, South Africa and Malaysia. MPV has recently secured its consultative status as a UN recognized non-governmental organization.

For more information, visit www.mpvusa.org / Connect with @MPVUSA (https://twitter.com/mpvusa) for the latest updates

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