An example of religious plurualism in Lebanon, this Youtube video features Lebanese diva Tania Kassis singing an inspired arrangement of the Christian Ave Maria accompanied by the Islamic call to prayer, or adhan, performed by Mhammad Shaar and Maen Zakaria.

Tania Kassis is very interested in religious and cultural dialogue, and in this song celebrates both Lebanon’s cultural diversity and the religious connections between Christianity and Islam. This musical project was put together for the creation of a National Islamo-Christian Holiday in Lebanon (March 25, Annunciation Day).

This musical experience is a strong reminder that, while we tend to hear much more about the ideas and acts of religious extremists on all sides, there is a large and vocal core of people in the Middle East who have no problem living together in diverse communities. It is good to be reminded that for many in the Middle East, as in America, harmony is a result of many different voices coming together to celebrate their diversity.