13/11/2014

Good morning. It’s a sobering fact that none of the world’s major religions began in Europe. The main faiths in this country have been imported. The result: a rich mix that gives opportunities for people whose faiths are different to get to know one another, and bring about a style of dialogue that helps differences to be honoured and shared values strengthened.

 As a Christian I’ve made good friendships with people of other faiths, and certainly learned and gained from them, without compromising the truth of my Christian faith. I still believe that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. But my own experience of personal dialogue has helped me to see that God also makes himself known beyond Christian boundaries. William Temple, the 20th century Archbishop, wrote: “There is only one Divine Light and every person in their measure is enlightened by it.”

In other words, God doesn’t confine himself to one religion; though for me the distinctively Christian insight about the nature of God is clear. What is he like? God is Christ-like – and every Christian is called to be like Christ.

If only we were! As the Hindu Mahatma Gandhi said: “If all Christians really were like Christ, the whole world would become Christian”.

Last week, at the Festival of Remembrance, when young people of different faiths happily took part in the service, I thought how much better it would be if many more people of different faiths, without losing their separate integrity, could cross boundaries to engage personally with one another. Given the make-up of our 21st century society, not to do so is such a shame.

Oh Lord our God, help us to see that we make your love too narrow by false limits of our own. Amen