The author is a believer in the importance of the inter-faith movement for establishing a harmonious global society on earth. He derides the negative residues that we witness in life due to fundamentalism and exclusivism and this too in the land which gave the Rig Veda that says, ?Ekam sad viprah bahudha vedanti ? truth is one, the wise call it by many names. This is the basic concept behind the inter-faith movement. As a student of comparative religion, the author seems particularly impressed by one of the major inter-faith organsations called the Temple of Understanding, founded four decades ago by an American woman named Juliet Hollister. Over the years it has developed into a centre for furthering inter-faith harmony and understanding all over the world and bringing the people together and belonging to different faiths in a creative dialogue aimed at a deeper understanding of each others? traditions.
The author talks of the views of the different religions on anger, brotherhood, courage, deeds, duty, evil, faith, family, forgiveness, friends, giving, golden rule, guidance, happiness, hate, home, immortality, justice, love, man, meditation, obedience, peace, repentance, sincerity, war, wealth, work and wrath. To cite an example, when talking of peace, Hinduism says, ?If one would find happiness and security, one must seek for peace?.
?M.G.
(Sterling Publishers (P) Ltd, A-50 Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi-110020.)
Leave a Comment