One World, One People, One Dream

Growing Together: One World, One People, One Dream…does this mean one faith?

Can world faiths share common goals yet maintain their diversity? And if yes, why does history tell us otherwise?

The other day local Loughborough members of the Quaker, Islamic, Brahma Kumaris, Hindu, Druid, Baha’i, Mormon and Christian faiths came together to discuss these issues, as part of One World Week – the theme, growing together.

There was a resounding consensus that all the faiths could and should work together for common goals – peace, justice, love, etc. All the faiths seemed to advocate that despite issues about the afterlife, what we did in this life mattered, to you, to me and to ‘God’. (Unfortunately no discussion on how we can work together practically)

However, it wasn’t long until someone posed the question ‘how can you work together despite you various differing views on salvation’. This is where things got interesting and to be honest left me a little all over the place.

Various views were given and it would be impossible to recount all that was said – you should have been there. I think the overall conclusion was that we are all on some kind of journey trying to work out salvation in our various ways and forms.

Some advocated that if you get it wrong then you might be back in another shape or form to try again.

Others said that how you were in this life would affect how good the afterlife was for you.

Some said that if you followed God (despite the name God was given – Allah, Jehovah, Jesus, Brahman) then you were on the right path – although what it means to follow God was never explored.

In any case, the impression I was left with was that it’s ok to pick and choose this bit and that, live a good life, follow some God fellow and I should be in the right direction. I guess this is how many of us view the world.

But for me, although I’m in no way an exclusivist when it come down to these things I’m still not sure what I think about the whole ‘pic and mix’ religion thing…

Article 1

Tomorrow Loughborough Students magazine, Label, will introduce a new faiths column – every other week, when the magazine some out, a different faith will have the opportunity to write 200 words about anything they want (within reason). I was the lucky first writer and so I thought I’d share it with the non-Loughborough Students who stumble on these pages…I may also add the other articles as they are published cos I recon they could be interesting…

 

Comments welcome…

 

I guess we live in an age where it’s not cool to be religious. Religion is
for old people, or for people from other cultures who like to withhold
their traditions, or for the indoctrinated. So, if Label had a go at a
religious column who would read it?

It may surprise you then that there are over ten faith student groups
representing the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities, and
I bet there are hundreds more spiritual people hiding in the woodwork.

I use the word ‘religious’ lightly because religion always gets a bad press.
People often have a problem with G-d because of religion, doctrine and
tradition. Who can blame them? But if I’m a serious person of faith do I
have to be religious? Do I have to have my head in the clouds and be part
of an elect group? Does life have to be rigid and dogmatic? Do I have to
have all the answers?

Are we not all spiritual beings trying to work life out? And as we journey
deeper surely it’s only right we listen and learn from the faith of others
– and perhaps such articles could facilitate this…

Testing God

I was in church the other day and it was an all age service where they usually do some token passage with some cheesy airy-fairy message that has nothing to do with anything. But at this particular service they were looking at 1 Kings 18 – which is a mental passage. Now it’ll be really good if you get hold of a bible and have a look at this, but because you probably won’t bother here is a brief summary.

To cut a long story short Elijah (who is supposed to be this wicked amazing prophet of the God of Israel) starts having a go at the worshipers of the god Baal, a storm god. He then sets up a little test between himself and Baal’s prophets. Each will get a bull, cut it into pieces, lay it on wood and then call upon their god’s to set fire to it. The prophets of Baal go first, and nothing much happens despite their various efforts – so Elijah pops in a couple of cheeky insults, what a nice guy… Elijah then has his turn, calls upon the God of Israel and the Lord sends his fire. In conclusion ‘the people’ fall on their faces and worship Elijah’s God, while Elijah has the prophets of Baal killed according to the Deuteronomic Law.

Now is anyone thinking what I thinking?

First off, why don’t I remember reading this insane story the first time?

Second, whats going on with doing this crazy kind of God test? I thought you shouldn’t ‘put the Lord your God to the test’ (Deut 6.16)? Would we ever do a similar kind of test today?

And thirdly – is it really necessary to have the prophets killed at the end?

My mind can barely begin to understand the gospels, never mind this. It often seems that the Hebrew Scriptures throw so much into question. What is the significance of stories such as these? Are these just stories? Are these stories with a point? Are these historical events? Has God changed, or did the law change? Does God work like this today?

How did Jesus understand these books, and what do they mean for us today?