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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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June 2006 |
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Why understand Muslims?Some of us are cautious about learning about other faiths, considering this to be a threat to our own belief. Bishop John continues. A media report of recent conference addresses in which I urged more interaction between religions to give people a better understanding of religious beliefs and practices drew forth a letter to me. This letter stated in part, ‘Israel was commanded to keep themselves pure, by not intermarrying with the heathen nations around them, light has no truck with darkness, why then do you accept in the name of “multiculturalism” the enemy who deny the deity of the only begotten Son??’ Why understand Muslims? Or non-Christians in general?As a Christian, I can think of three reasons: 1. Jesus commands us to love our neighbours as ourselves. Love entails understanding and sensitive engagement. 2. The Light of the world is not to be hidden but to be shared: sharing is effective when hearts and minds are open in love. 3. Pragmatically, we live in a multi-faith society. Understanding is a vital key to our building on shared values, respect of differences and a commitment to our common life. A disinclination or failure to understand each other leads to either pretending there are no differences between us, with resultant rudeness and inhospitality; or we tend to exaggerate differences and become separated and hostile. Understanding our neighbours is at the core of our loving them. Of course, understanding focuses the reality of difference with its attendant surprises, joys and frustrations. My conference addresses and forthcoming workshops ‘Understanding our Muslim Neighbours’ seek to provide opportunity for participants to learn something of Islam and Muslims, to learn of their own religious views in front of these, and to seek to live out their own faith with integrity. As a Christian, I am to witness by word and deed, by a consistent and caring life of love, to what God has done for us in Christ. Muslims, like Christians, believe they have a mission mandate both to declare and to live their religious faith. For us to live together in integrity and for our common good it is best to acknowledge that Islam and Christianity are both missionary religions. There is nothing wrong with wanting others to share the beliefs that have nurtured our lives and given us hope. May God give me the grace and strength to live as Christ and to be neighbour, loving neighbour, to those among whom God has placed me. Shalom,
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