December 8, 2004

Bridges TV

One of the most significant efforts made by Muslims in America the creation of Bridges TV at http://www.bridgestv.com. If you have a broadband Internet connection, via cable modem, DSL, satellite, etc., you can enjoy Bridges TV for free. Otherwise, you have subscribe to it via Globacast or another satellite provider.

Since I only access Bridges TV via the Internet, I only occasionally "drop in" to see what's on. So far, I must say that I've been pleasantly surprised. The programming seems to be done very professionally, with an excellent selection of speakers from America, England, and all over the world. The mixture personalities is that of Western-born Muslims with those who have emigrated to the West. The common thread is an accute concern for a better understanding of Islamic teachings by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

The emphasis on providing English-language programming is extremely important. Traditionally, Westerners learning about Islam had to wallow through a tremendous quantity of Arabic terminology and, if you'll pardon the comment, accents. This often made it extremely difficult to comprehend or even accept because of varying degrees of confusion generated by linguistic and cultural differences that served as barriers. Bridges TV bridges the gap between Islamic knowledge and Western audiences because it transcends these barriers and delivers with clarity.