Christians, Muslims, Buddhists Gather to Remove Fear, Stereotypes
Christians, Muslims, Buddhists Gather to Remove Fear, Stereotypes
By Lillian Kwon|Christian Post Reporter
Hundreds of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and atheists have convened at a Texas church in an effort to try to understand one another.
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The Global Faith Forum kicked off Thursday at NorthWood Church in Keller and Pastor Bob Roberts, Jr., is hoping the crowd will be open to listen to one another and even build friendships.
Within a pluralistic world where prejudice and stereotypes often hinder understanding, Roberts says "there is a better way than hate and fear."
"Everyone is saying that the tension between the U.S. and the rest of the world is bad, tension between the faiths is bad, and things are spinning out of control," he wrote in his blog ahead of the conference. "We can complain, gripe, fear, worry – or we can act. This is an opportunity to gather and act."
The forum isn't a gathering of theologians to debate religions, he made clear. Rather, it's an opportunity for people of multiple faiths to get to know one another, start conversations, and learn from each other.
"For me, questions as to who is God and how do we find salvation, are not the primary questions I’m seeking and seeking to answer at this forum," he wrote. "I’ve come to acknowledge that theologically there are irreconcilable differences in some of what I believe and what others believe. But, how we relate to others, and how we work together in the world is everything."
He pointed out that evangelicals are not viewed in a favorable light by most of the world.
"It’s time to begin to understand that and change that. The Great Commission demands it. The love of Jesus for all of humanity and his desire to see transformation demands it. We are boxed in by love on every side by Jesus Christ. Even those we fear and those that we would think are our enemies, we are commanded to love," he said.
As the purpose of the conference states, participants – most of whom are Christians – are "moving from a conversation about other faiths, to a conversation with other faiths. And many of the religious leaders involved are friends of Roberts.
By Lillian Kwon|Christian Post Reporter
Hundreds of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and atheists have convened at a Texas church in an effort to try to understand one another.
Related
* Christians, Muslims, Jews Worship at Evangelical Megachurch
* Survey: Protestant Pastors View Islam with Suspicion
* Texas Evangelical: We Need to Get to Know Muslims
* Tenn. Residents Express More Sharia Fears
The Global Faith Forum kicked off Thursday at NorthWood Church in Keller and Pastor Bob Roberts, Jr., is hoping the crowd will be open to listen to one another and even build friendships.
Within a pluralistic world where prejudice and stereotypes often hinder understanding, Roberts says "there is a better way than hate and fear."
"Everyone is saying that the tension between the U.S. and the rest of the world is bad, tension between the faiths is bad, and things are spinning out of control," he wrote in his blog ahead of the conference. "We can complain, gripe, fear, worry – or we can act. This is an opportunity to gather and act."
The forum isn't a gathering of theologians to debate religions, he made clear. Rather, it's an opportunity for people of multiple faiths to get to know one another, start conversations, and learn from each other.
"For me, questions as to who is God and how do we find salvation, are not the primary questions I’m seeking and seeking to answer at this forum," he wrote. "I’ve come to acknowledge that theologically there are irreconcilable differences in some of what I believe and what others believe. But, how we relate to others, and how we work together in the world is everything."
He pointed out that evangelicals are not viewed in a favorable light by most of the world.
"It’s time to begin to understand that and change that. The Great Commission demands it. The love of Jesus for all of humanity and his desire to see transformation demands it. We are boxed in by love on every side by Jesus Christ. Even those we fear and those that we would think are our enemies, we are commanded to love," he said.
As the purpose of the conference states, participants – most of whom are Christians – are "moving from a conversation about other faiths, to a conversation with other faiths. And many of the religious leaders involved are friends of Roberts.
