Cook: A Muslim, a Christian and the quest for reducing ignorance

Women who came with others from the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga to offer their support hug outside after an interfaith vigil at Olivet Baptist Church held in remembrance of victims of the July, 16 shootings on Friday, July 17, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The vigil was held one day after gunman Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez shot and killed four U.S. Marines and wounded two others and a Chattanooga police officer at the Naval Operational Support Center on Amnicola Highway shortly after firing into the Armed Forces Career Center on Lee Highway. Women who came with others from the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga to offer their support hug outside after an interfaith vigil at Olivet Baptist Church held in remembrance of victims of the July, 16 shootings on Friday, July 17, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The vigil was held one day after gunman Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez shot and killed four U.S. Marines and wounded two others and a Chattanooga police officer at the Naval Operational Support Center on Amnicola Highway shortly after firing into the Armed Forces Career Center on Lee Highway.

By David Cook November 22, 2015 5 min read

In the days after 9/11, Boyd Patterson, an assistant district attorney for Hamilton County, began reading the Quran.

Patterson, a Christian, wasn’t trying to convert, but rather investigate and understand. As the fog of war enveloped the U.S., Patterson wanted clarity and discernment.

What verses could inspire terrorism? What verses were terrorists reading?

Uzma Munir, who came with others from the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga to offer their support, puts her hands to her face while listening during an interfaith vigil at Olivet Baptist Church held in remembrance of victims of the July, 16 shootings on Friday, July 17, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The vigil was held one day after gunman Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez shot and killed four U.S. Marines and wounded two others and a Chattanooga police officer at the Naval Operational Support Center on Amnicola Highway shortly after firing into the Armed Forces Career Center on Lee Highway.

For more information

To purchase Patterson’s book, with proceeds going to the Chattanooga Heroes Fund, visit Amazon.com or email him at boyd@boydpatterson.com. Issa’s book will be available in the coming weeks.Patterson and Issa will speak at 6 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Chattanooga Public Library on Broad Street

David Cook

“What could possibly authorize killing in the name of God?” he asked.