Voices of faith

McClatchy Newspapers

Voices of Faith: Do people of different faiths need to look for common ground to get along?

Kris R. Krishna, an engineer and member of the Hindu community: By “get along,” I hope you mean living in peaceful coexistence.

Sure, people of different faiths need to look for common ground so they can live peacefully together.

When people find other people of different faiths have some beliefs that are similar to theirs, it is easier to get along. The trouble begins only when one faith asserts itself as superior and pushes its dogma to emphasize it is the way, and other faiths are wrong. Some faiths even go as far as to say that their God is the only God, and all others are false. Hindus believe that all faiths are the same seeking the same God. They are like different rivers flowing into the same ocean of Godhead. Hinduism believes in the universality of religions, tolerance for religions and acceptance of all beliefs.

Syed E. Hasan, Ph.D., Islamic Research Foundation International: Knowledge is a powerful tool that, if used wisely, can help us lead our lives in the right way. Ignorance leads to fear and anger and could engender inappropriate action. There are many acts of violence that individuals and societies have committed against fellow humans that, upon honest reflection and correct knowledge, turned out to be totally unjustified and regretful. While knowing about others’ faiths allows us to appreciate the religious diversity that exists among humankind, it need not be the sole basis to seek common ground for interaction. The fundamental point is that in God’s eyes, all human beings are equal, and each person deserves the same level of treatment and fairness as anyone else. This should be the foremost reason for anyone to get to know others, including people of other faiths.

The principle of peaceful coexistence and harmonious relation with all humanity is well articulated in Verse 13, Chapter 49 of the Qur’an: “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (the one who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).”