Source/Credit: BC Local News | Nanaimo News Bulletin
By Rachel Stern | January 18, 2011
Voices from many faiths are gathering to share their views during an upcoming interfaith symposium.
The free symposium – Reconciling the Existence of God and Human Suffering – is hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at community B.C. branch Saturday (Jan. 22) from 3-7 p.m. at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
Farhan Khokhar, national spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Community, said the event is an opportunity to hear detailed aspects of many faiths in a short time.
“People can see similarities between faith instead of differences and that’s how we become closer together,” said Khokhar. “It’s an event that brings humanity together.”
Each speaker representing different faiths will present their views on how to reconcile the existence of God and human suffering.
Khokhar said it is an opportunity to hear detailed aspects from many different faiths.
Ahmadiyya has hosted events bringing people of different faiths together to show their views for almost 100 years, said Khokhar, but it will be the first time it has hosted a gathering in Nanaimo.
The symposium features six speakers from different faiths – aboriginal traditions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism. Two of the featured speakers are from Nanaimo – Shiv Sharma, representing the Hinduism and Pastor Barry Hansen representing the Christianity.
Sharma has hosted the Punjabi radio show, Apna Sur Sangeet on CHLY 101.7, since 2005. He was born in Jabowal in the district of Kapurthala in India and immigrated to Canada in 1993.
Hansen was ordained as a Christian minister in 1994 and became the pastor of Maranatha Church in 2004. He said the symposium promotes tolerance.
“It promotes healthy dialogue. Nobody’s there to convince other people to believe what they believe,” he said. “It helps build understanding and helps to correct misbeliefs.”
The goal of the symposium isn’t to have a debate, but to find common ground and discuss the symposium’s chosen topic, Hansen added.
Other speakers include Greg Sam, who will share views from the Coast Salish Culture; Henry Landry is a Buddhist master and has taught it since 1986; Muhammad Afzal Mirza will speak about the Islam faith, he has a weekly radio program in Toronto about contemporary Islamic issues; and Tajinder Singh represents Sikhism.
The free symposium takes place in the Mount Benson Ballroom at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, located at 101 Gordon St.
Organizers ask for people to register to ensure there is enough space and refreshments for everyone.
For more information or to register, please call 1-877-767-1965, e-mail info.bc@ahmadiyya.ca or go to www.islamevents.ca.
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