Canada: Tackling religion and conflict

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The conference was a first of its kind for Moose Jaw. Four speakers, representing Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Islam, discussed their views on if religion is a source of conflict or peace. 

Photo Twitter: @tariq1azeem

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Moose Jaw Times
By Mickey Djuric | November 8, 2015

Sunday, at the World Religion Conference in Moose Jaw, Missionary Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at faced what he's used to in the real world: oppression.

Several audience members in the crowd were more than willing to interrupt Jama'at to express why they feel Christianity is better than Islam during the conference at Zion United Church. No other speaker representing their religion faced the same discourtesy.

The conference was a first of its kind for Moose Jaw. Four speakers, representing Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Islam, discussed their views on if religion is a source of conflict or peace.

"It is an issue of great importance especially with the spread of Islamophobia in the Western world and amongst non-Muslims," said Jama'at.

"There's no doubt this state of fear and anxiety has been fueled by the so-called Muslim or Muslim groups. There should be no doubts these acts of terrorism, have nothing to do whatsoever with the true and peaceful teachings of Islam."

Judging the action of Al Qaeda and ISIS would be like judging Christianity from the actions of Hitler or the National Resistance Army in Uganda, argued Jama'at.

"Just because it's associated with the word Islam does not mean those terrorist organizations have anything to do with Islam," said Jama'at. "Is Islam a source of conflict or peace? I along with 1.6 billion mainstream Muslims, a quarter of the human race, and living in all areas of the world, definitely believe Islam, followed correctly, is a source of peace."

Kate David, a professor at the University of Regina, was the speaker representing Judaism, and had a different take on the answer.

"Religion can either be a source of conflict or peace depending on how we understand our texts," said David.

"But to evoke God to justify violence at the innocent is not an act of sanctity but a sacrilege. It is a kind of blasphemy. It is to take God's name in vein. Religion is and always has been a call to do better and be better. Religion is about doing work on oneself, not another."

Usha Sharma, speaker representing Hinduism, spoke on how she has seen religion tear her native country of Pakistan apart. As a child she viewed religion as a source of conflict, and today she believes the world should adopt one religion.

"All the religions should get together and make one religion because humanity does have the need to connect spiritually," said Sharma. "That doesn't mean now in school we can't say 'Merry Christmas' which is happening now. We're getting too narrow-minded and if we can change our perspective and be spiritual and humanitarians, the world would be a better place to live."

Reverend Doug Hallman, speaker for Christianity agreed that people need to be more accepting.

"Unless we can share with the idea that each one of us has a different understanding of what God intends for us, then we can't create a community together," said Hallman.

Mayor Deb Higgins was one of the audience members during the conference which she called food-for-thought.

"To have this discussion tonight opened our eyes and gave each and every one of us the opportunity to learn something new," she said.

"I hope it gave each of us a better understanding of our neighbours and the people we call neighbours and the people we want to be our neighbours."



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Mickey Djuric can be reached at 306-691-1263 or on Twitter @MickeyDjuric. 

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