Efforts to establish a mosque are good for our community — and not just the Muslim members.
If the name is anything to go by, there have been Christian churches in Chapel Hill for as long as the town has existed.
These buildings are more than places of worship: They are a permanent manifestation of the values and identities of this community.
Islam is unquestionably a part of Chapel Hill today. On campus, there is a thriving Muslim Students’ Association, as well as a number of highly regarded Muslim faculty members.
And Muslims contribute to the town of Chapel Hill through successful businesses and community participation.
Yet Chapel Hill has lacked a mosque or Islamic center.
It’s not that prayer is impossible at present: Muslim students can compete for space in the Union, pray alone or drive to other mosques in the Triangle.
But the inconveniences there are obvious, and without a permanent home, it’s harder to bring the Muslim community together.
Mosques are more than just prayer spaces. They serve as centers for social and educational activities, as well as powerful religious and cultural symbols.
