Canada: Conference sheds light on different religions

Pictured: World Religious Conference.The three speakers at the World Religious Conference in Bradford join hands. Terry Weller (from left) represented Christianity, Mark Freiman represented Judaism and Mubarak Nazir represented Islam. PHOTO COURTESY OF MALIK KHALID MAHMOOD

Photo credit: Malik Khalid Mahmood

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: Simcoe.com | March 29, 2010
By Theresa Dixon | theresa.dixon@rogers.com

Featuring inspirational speeches, reverent prayers and the tender voices of the Ahmadiyya Muslim children’s choir leading the crowd in O Canada, the World Religious Conference was held in Bradford last week.

More than 400 people attended the event organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.   

From the moment people began arriving at Bradford and District Memorial Community Centre, it was evident how much work the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community put into the event.


Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Doug White said he was thrilled to be the moderator for the conference’s discussion on reconciling faith and loyalty to the country and welcomed scholars from Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 

“We are all in this together,” Mr. White said. “That’s what it is all about. This will be a good learning experience and I am thrilled there is such a good turnout.”

Presenting the Judaic perspective was former Ontario deputy attorney general Mark Freiman, who is also president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, an organization that celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2009.

Mr. Freiman said he spoke not as a rabbi, but as a person who is both Canadian and Jewish.

The Canadian Jewish Congress is concerned with social justice and rights for all Canadians and has come to the defence of many religious and cultural minorities.

It had significant input into the development of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Mr. Freiman cited the Talmud, the book of Jewish law, which reflects the view that Judaism is part of pluralism.

Citing several historical contexts that state God is a God for all people, Mr. Freiman talked about how the Torah includes passages of inclusion for minorities.

“There should be no difference between the native and the stranger,” Mr. Freiman said. 
Ordained in 1998 at St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York as an interfaith minister, Reverend Terry Weller has studied all religions. A warden at Trinity Anglican Church in Aurora and publisher and editor of Interfaith Unity News, Rev. Weller also counsels people with addictions. 

“God loves diversity,” he said. “Why would he create so many different kinds of birds or trees? They are all loved by the creator.”

Establishing three important standards for himself, Rev. Weller said he strives to be worthy of traditions, to be the best Christian he can be and to be there for the needy and people in pain.

Mubarak Nazir, senior vice-president and missionary of the Toronto-based Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, spoke against extremists who have defamed Islam.

“They are a blot on the face of a Muslim,” he said. “They do not represent the true face of Islam, which is about peace and harmony.”

Mr. Nazir said the Ahmadiyya Muslim people in Canada are peaceful and law-abiding. 
Mr. Nazir’s loyalty to Canada brightly shone through as he talked about his faith and love for the country. 

“Canada is a beautiful country, with unparalleled opportunity and equal opportunity,” he said. “Many people from other nations have made Canada their home. One day, you are arriving in the airport with your little suitcase ... the next day, you might be a member of parliament.

“How can you hurt those who have helped you? Canada has welcomed us.

“Look at Bradford,” he continued. “There are Germans, Irish, Ukrainians and many others living here. One more flower has been added.”

The word ‘Islam’ means peace.

Muslims believe God revealed his word to mankind through the Prophet Muhammad in Mecca, Arabia in the seventh century A.D.

Islam is more than a religion; it is a way of life.

Service to humanity is an important part of the faith.

Muslims use the Qur’an, which contains 114 chapters, for guidance and direction. 

The scholars at the World Religious Conference spoke of God and diversity, but most of all, they spoke about the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

Similar conferences have been organized in several other Canadian locations with different themes since 1981.

Malik Khalid Mahmood and Mubarak Ahmad from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of York Region spearheaded the Bradford conference.

Involved in many social and educational projects, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community recently sent 40 doctors to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

To the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community: thank you for a special evening.

Theresa Dixon is a resident of Bradford West Gwillimbury and can be reached at theresa.dixon@rogers.com.

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