For a long time religions have
been perceived to be consultants on matters pertaining peace in our States.
However, with this era the cup seems to have turned upside down pouring honey
which was source of sweetness. This aspect is losing its meaning from day to
day with religions remaining to be more of political arena chasing after their
opponents. It goes beyond my expectations to think of conflict among those who
are expected to be elements and preacher of peace. The big question for
reflection remains, what will happen when the predator becomes the prey of the
prey? This is a call for both religious leaders and the followers to read the
signs of time and make a step towards transformation.
This leads me to question our motivations of following Christ as
Christians in the first place. St. Paul in his first letter to Corinthians is
categorical about the slogans that “I am for Paul, I am for Apollos, I am for
Cephas, or I am for Christ” (1Corinthians 1:10-13). I have a feeling that this
is what is happening today and cause of our divisions as Christian. Some of the
shepherds do take an advantage of their “ignorant and naïve”
flock to impose their view about other denomination. The aim may be to keep the
flock in that denomination, but in the long run the consequences may be
unbearable. There is a danger once the flock starts to perceive other
denominations to be practicing idolatry or demonic. With our generation, I see
a serious threat to our salvation and search for Christ I a sense that, a
number of us Christians are losing our goal of search for Christ and instead
invest much of our time running after our fellow human beings and especially
those of other denomination and whom we consider to be our enemies, which is a
shame. I do think that there is a state of emergency and which call us all to
awake from our slumber and reexamine our directions and conscious. As St. Paul
challenges us, we ought to question whether it was our priest or pastor and who
instils in us the spirit of divisions, who died for our salvation? Answering
this question may help us to make good choices in life.
On the other hand, there is a need of inter-religious dialogue in our
current generation. Looking on the rate at which the world is changing with
advancement in technology, it really affects all of us regardless of our
religion. For example, the global warming is not selective of religion and
hence, it implies that whether Christian, Muslim, Jew or of any other religion
do suffer in the same way. Therefore, we need to embrace the dialogue for
social action. It remains a big pity for our brothers and sisters who knowingly
or unknowingly decide to give a blind eye to the fact that we share humanity.
In some situations, it is not hard to find a Muslim and a Christian who are neighbors
but do not dare to meet and discuss issues which concern them as neighbors on
bases that they do not belong to the same religion. The fact that one prays on
Friday, another one on Saturday and the other on Sunday does not deny the fact
that we share humanity. It is always encouraging to find a Muslim and a
Christian collaborating in different activities.
The central aim of engaging in inter-religious dialogue or ecumenism
should not be to convert people to our religion or denomination (proselytism),
but ought to respect each other’s choice of religion. This can in fact widen
the gap between the parties and create more tension than understanding.
Entering in inter-religious dialogue with a wide-minded can be of help in
coming out of our naïve perception and stereotypes about the other religions.
It really beats my understanding as to why we should be having misunderstanding
when I venture on each religion’s golden rule because they all target at
promoting harmonious human relationship. I do think that most are the times
when we are driven by our stereotypes without first listening or reading about
the other religions’ golden rules and so think ours is the only one which is
human. If we enter in a dialogue with the other religions and dispose ourselves
to knowledge we will be able to speak one voice. In the dialogue we should aim
at unity but not uniformity of all human beings. I have a feeling that all
religions can co-exist provided they are in the spirit of love for one another
and in it our creator will be glorified and His will done.
URBANUS O.K MUTUKU