Transcript Interfaith Relations

Topic: INTERFAITH RELATIONS
FACILITATOR:Nojeem Jimoh
MPAC Masterclass Series
13/12/2015
Introduction
•
World’s Major Religions
–
Islam
–
Christianity
–
Judaism
–
Hinduism
–
Budhism
–
Sikhism
JUDAISM
–
Third of the Abrahamic religions, following Islam and
Christianity.
–
Adherents are called Jews and believe in the prophetic
mission of Prophet Moses (ASW)
–
Their scripture is the Torah and they believe in the Old
Testament
–
They are descendants of Prophet Ishaq (Isaac) while the
Arabs are descendants of Isma’eel
–
Responsible for the persecution of ‘Eesaa (ASW)
–
Orthodox Jews only wear black, females shave
HINDUISM
•
Hinduism
–
Third largest religion after Islam and Christianity
–
Followers claim it is the world’s oldest religion, dating
back 500 BCE
–
Scriptures are mainly Vedas, Upanishads and the
Puranas
–
A fusion of India cultures and traditions, with no known
founder
–
Practised mainly in South-East Asia, notably India and
Nepal. Famous for Yoga.
PROMINENT HINDU TEACHINGS

Four Goals of Human Life (The Purusharthas):
 Dharma
 Kama
(Ethics & Duties)
(Emotions)
 Moksha
 Karma
(Liberation & Freedom)
(Action, intent and consequences)
 Samsara
 Yoga

(Cycle of rebirths)
(path to attain moksha)
Annual Festival and Pilgrimages
Budhism

Founded by Guatama Budha and based on four major
teachings:
 There’s
 The
suffering and misery in life
cause of these is desire
 Suffering
and misery can be removed by removing
desires
 Desires
can be removed by following Eight Fold Paths
 Karma
is a major teaching of Budhism
SIKHISM

Founded by Guru Nanak at the end of the 15th Century.
Based on Five Ks:
 Kesh:
Uncut Hair for live
 Kanga:
 Kada:
Comb, to keep the hair tidy
Metal or Steel Bangle
 Kirpan:
Dagger – for self defence
 Kaccha:
Knee-length underwear for agility
The Bible: Which Bible?

The Old Testament is the Holy Scripture of the Jews and contains records of
all the prophets of the Jews that came before Jesus (pbuh).

The New Testament contains records of the life of Jesus (pbuh).

The complete Bible, i.e. the Old Testament and the New Testament put
together, contains 73 books.

However, the Protestant Bible i.e. the King James
Version, contains only 66 books as they consider 7 books of the Old
Testament to be apocrypha, i.e. of doubtful authority.
Therefore the Old Testament of the Catholics, contains 46 books and that of
the Protestants, 39 books. However the New Testament of both these sects
contains 27 books.
Jesus Christ & Divinity

Not once in the Bible does Jesus say ‘I am God’ or ‘worship me’

(i) "My Father is greater than I."
John 14:28
(ii) "My Father is greater than all."
John 10:29
(iii) "…I cast out devils by the Spirit of God…."
Mathew 12:28
(iv) "…I with the finger of God cast out devils…."
Luke 11:20
(v) "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is
just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath
sent me."
John 5:30
CONCEPT OF GOD IN JUDAISM

(i) The following verse from the book of Deuteronomy contains an exhortation
from Moses (pbuh):
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord"
Deuteronomy 6:4

The following verses are from the Book of Isaiah:
(ii) "I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour."
Isaiah 43:11
(iii) "I am Lord, and there is none else There is no God besides me."
Isaiah 45 : 5
(iv) "I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me."
Isaiah 46:9
JUDAISM & IDOL WORSHIPPING

Judaism condemns idol worship in the following verses:
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything
that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
under the earth."
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God
am a jealous God.“ Exodus 20:3-5
(iv) A similar message is repeated in the book of Deuteronomy:
"Thou shalt have none other gods before me."
"Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is
in heaven above, or that in the earth beneath, or that is in the water beneath
the earth."
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy
God am a jealous God.“ Deuteronomy 5:7-9
Common Questions About Islam

Q1. Why is a man allowed to have more than one wife in Islam? i.e. why is
polygamy allowed in Islam?

Q2. If all Muslims follow one and the same Qur’an, why are there so many
sects and different schools of thoughts among Muslims?

Q3. Why does Islam degrade women by keeping them behind the veil?

Q4. How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the
sword?

Q5. Why are most of the Muslims fundamentalists and terrorists?

Q6. Why are two witnesses who are women, equivalent to only one witness
who is a man ?

Q7. Under Islamic law, why is a woman’s share of the inherited wealth only
half that of a man?

Q8. How can you prove the existence of The Hereafter, i.e. life after death?
WWW.IRF.NET/FAQ