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Expert: Le Anne Clausen - 6/4/2007


Question
okay... so im talking to this guy.. pretty much seeing him... he is arab and i
wanted to know if they can date out of their religion, i mean he is Christian and i
am too... but we do some things that two people in a relationship would do, but
i wanted to know if im getting my hopes up that we'll have a relationship, or
we're just friends with benefits

Answer
Hi Lila, and thanks for your question.  Hmm...this may be a good case to be up front with this guy and ask if he is looking for a relationship rather than just friends with benefits.  It is permissible for him to date other Christians of other cultures, but it may be worth finding out if he plans to tell his family about you--which seems to be the standard indicator of whether a relationship is possible.  

Hope this helps!

peace,
Le Anne

Arab Culture

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Le Anne Clausen

Expertise

I can answer questions on Arab culture, including differences in cultures among Arab countries and sub-groups. I can also answer questions on Christian-Muslim relations, interfaith issues in general, and human rights and peacemaking issues in the Middle East.

Experience

I was a human rights worker for four years in the Middle East, and have spent time in Palestine, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. I speak intermediate Arabic; some Hebrew; and am starting Persian (Farsi, Dari). I have led a half-dozen educational delegations to the area for North American groups; and I have led trainings for nearly a thousand international human rights volunteers coming into the area over my years there. I am now working to launch an interfaith peace-teams based human rights organization, hopefully in the next two years. I am also currently editing the manuscript for my first book, a firsthand account of my time in the Middle East

Publications
"Be the Healers," (next steps after Abu Ghraib) The Lutheran magazine, July 2004. www.christian-muslim.net www.seminaryaction.org www.young-activist.blogspot.com Multiple press releases which I wrote from the field, as well as media interviews/articles about my work are also available via Google search.

Education/Credentials
I have an MA in Christian-Muslim relations; and I am now continuing my studies at Chicago Theological Seminary (www.ctschicago.edu). I also have a BA in Religion concentrating in global service, from Wartburg College, (www.wartburg.edu).

Awards and Honors
I received the Dell Award for Peace and Justice from Wartburg College. I have spoken and led workshops and trainings at over one hundred church congregations, colleges, schools, organizations

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