Articles 2 and 3

As promised future articles from Label’s (Loughborough Uni’s Student Magazine) Faith column…

Article 2

You probably haven’t realised that two of the biggest events in the World Faiths calendar have slipped you by – ‘Bandi Chor Divas’ and ‘Diwali’. Although both celebrated on the same day, each is celebrated for different reasons by their respective religion. A cha (Indian tea) and Samosa party was held by Sikh Soc to celebrate on Monday.

Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chor Divas to represent freedom. Like all great eastern celebrations, there is always a story to accompany. This one is based on the sixth Guru being released from wrongful imprisonment, alongside 52 Hindu kings, who were political prisoners. Upon release Guru Hargobind Ji went to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where he was welcomed by people who lit candles to celebrate his return.

Similarly, the Hindu festival of Diwali also celebrates the return of an important figure, Lord Rama, who was banished from his home town and forced to battle the demon king Raven. Upon his return deevotees lit the path with small candles to guide the rightful King of Ayodhya back to his throne.

Although both festivals celebrate different triumphs, people of all religions use this day to come together and celebrate with their friends and family.

Article 3

We all know that Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ – but why was he born?

The Bible says that ‘God did not send his Son [Jesus] into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him’ (John 3:17). Jesus was on a rescue mission, to give human beings the chance to have their relationship with God repaired. We all know that feeling, that there’s something wrong with the world – this is because of our separation from God. We rebel against God, the relationship with him is broken and as a result we experience the world as it is.

So did Jesus come simply to tell us we were all rubbish compared to him? No way! Jesus was the only person who ever lived a perfect life and yet he died a criminal’s death on a cross. By doing this, Jesus gave us all a way to have our relationship with God restored, simply by trusting that his death was enough for us to be forgiven of all that we’ve done wrong. Amazing! To find out more, come along to the Christian Union! Tuesdays at 7pm in the Chaplaincy (Brockington building).

(This article by the CU wasn’t published in Label for various reasons – more on that when I find out – and a replacement article was written by the editors, which when I read it I will upload)