Source/Credit: Your Ottawa Region
By John Curry | November 21, 2010
STITTSVILLE - Adherents of Islam and Christianity came together at the Stittsville United Church on Sunday, Nov. 14 and, lo and behold, the two religions are not that much different.
Islam advocates a message of peace and love, which is certainly the Christian message as well.
The two religions were the focus for a post-brunch forum at Stittsville United Church with about a dozen members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community of Ottawa joining with members of the Stittsville United Church congregation for the brunch.
Following the brunch, questions were posed to young adults of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community as well as to six members of the youth group at Stittsville United Church about faith issues, with Stittsville United Church minister Rev. Grant Dillenbeck as the moderator.
The Muslim young adults told the more than 60 members of the Stittsville United Church congregation at the brunch that religion for them means more than just rituals and dress but rather is a whole way of life, dictating how a person should act in various circumstances. The Islam religion offers a complete code of ethics, meaning that religion for a Muslim is not just a part of life but dictates how a person leads that life.
Being religious and contributing to society go hand in hand for a Muslim, it was said.
Because Islam is seen as a way of life, it is not hard to obey the religion’s dictates such as abstaining from alcohol and not eating pork.
While Muslim’s pray formally five times a day, they also practise another form of prayer that can happen at any time of the day.
Muslims do experience discrimination, although in Canada not from society as a whole but rather at times from fellow Muslims as there are differences within the Islam faith community just like there are in the Christian community, with different churches such as the United and Catholic.
It was pointed out that a true adherent of Islam believes in peace with no tolerance for compulsion or terrorism. Islam is also tolerant of other religions, believing that there is more than one way to attain heaven.
Stittsville United Church youth responded to a variety of the prepared questions as well.
They said that they go to church regularly because of the sense of community which exists there; because it is fun; because it allows them to build faith with God; because it allows them to learn more about themselves and God; and because it provides a sense of belonging.
The Stittsville United Church youth reported that their friends seem interested in the fact that they attend church regularly and are quite accepting of the fact. However, some of these friends, while supportive, do not want to delve too deeply into the matter because they themselves do not want to get involved in the church.
The youth reported that they pray at times like before going to bed and at church but that they might also pray at any time, such as when something goes well or when something does not go so well.
The mission of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community is to convey Islam’s message of peace and love as presented in the Koran and exemplified in the life of the prophet Muhammad and to present to others the teachings of Islam.
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