Religious leaders ponder over existence of God
Religious leaders who gathered at the Hindu temple last Friday in Gaborone agreed on one thing: That there is only one God, with various names according to religions.
The panel of four leaders from Islam, Hare Khrishna, Christianity and Sikhism were brought together by the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light organisation (HWPL), to dialogue on scriptures discussing who God is.
They also wanted to see whether they agree or differ on the belief that God created the heaven and earth. A representative from Hare Khrishna Ashish, Bhatia said Hare Khrishnas teach and encourage the sankirtana movement, congregational chanting of the holy names of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Bhagwan Krishna.
Their holy book, Bhagavad Gita teaches that if one is to be recognised as god, one must possess the six opulences, being name, fame, wealth, beauty, logic and renunciation.
He said that Lord Khrishna existed in India 500 years ago as the supreme creator and supreme father, citing Bhagwad Gita 9.11-12, which reads, “When I appear in My human-like form (Sri Krishna), foolish people with mundane intelligence disrespect Me, because they cannot recognize Me as the Supreme God.”
Speaking from a Christian perspective, Bishop Cosmos Moenga said Genesis 1:1 speaks of a God who created the heaven and earth in the beginning. He said God revealed Himself through prophets like the Biblical Moses.
He said God also revealed Himself through Jesus Christ who was a total human being. For Sheikh Hategrkimana Hassan of Islam, he said Allah is described in the Holy Quaran as the creator, who is not comparable to anything that he has created.
His oneness, he said, cannot be compromised. “He is loving, compassionate and merciful,” he said, quoting chapters 112 and 39 of the Holy Quaran to emphasise his self existence and creator of all things.
The last panelist Loveleen Nanuan of Sikhism explained that there is only one God but that this is the God of all religions. She described him as the supreme truth, creator, without fear and hate, immortal and neither born nor die.
She said God is formless and has no gender. The opening of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 45, says “God is One. He is the Supreme Truth. He the Creator, is without fear and without hate. He is immortal. He is neither born and nor does He die. By Guru’s grace shall He be met. Chant And Meditate on His Name. In the beginning, He was the Truth. Throughout the ages, He has been the Truth. He is the Truth now and He shall be the Truth forever”.
The leaders agreed that the reason there is no peace in the world is because of some segments in their faiths that are interpreting the scriptures. For Christians, Bishop Moenga said various denominations believe in one God but have different practices. Bahatia said philosophers in the east and west of India misinterpret the Holy book and use it for personal gain. Sheikh Hassan said they have Muslims who use Allah’s name to gain politically and socially.
“If they don’t get what they want, they turn to violence,” he said. Nanuan of Sikhism said they have divisions arising from pride among followers but said that, ‘It’s not religion that separates people but darkness.’
HWPL is a peace organisation officially registered in the Seoul Metropolitan City in Korea under the regulation of non-profit organisations specified in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and transcends differences in culture, belief and region to engage leaders and youth in sustainable and comprehensive solutions for peace.
