|
|
January 31, 2003
Understanding the other viewpoints
Representatives from different religions come together to discuss
ideas of God.
AVRUM NADIGEL SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Behind the pulpit at Beth Tikvah Synagogue, Father Dennis Polanco
thrusts a magazine into the air.
"Historically, diverging views of God have caused a parting
of ways for Jews and Christians. And I'm thankful we're coming back
together and talking here tonight. Because this article I found
in September about Abraham, well, it got many people thinking about
these issues. And I thought: 'Wouldn't Abraham be glad to see his
picture on the front cover of Time magazine?' "
Polanco's irreverent observation caused the culturally diverse crowd
of more than 100 to break into laughter, diminishing the subtle
tension in the room. No small feat given the ambitious, if not controversial,
subject matter of the adult education class – The God of Abraham:
Three Perspectives. Sponsored by Beth Tivkvah, the lecture, which
took place Jan. 22, compared the different views of God held by
Jews, Christians and Muslims. Rabbi Barry Leff, spiritual leader
of Beth Tikvah, Polanco of St. Joseph's the Worker Parish and Aly
Khanzadeh, executive director of the Islamic Cultural Institute
of Canada formed the panel that tackled the lofty, and often misunderstood,
subject matter.
Leff, acting as facilitator and speaker, began the lecture by describing
his purpose for hosting the event:
"Understanding different aspects of God will allow us to have
appreciation for other perspectives, and enrich our own understanding
of God by seeing how other traditions look at it," he told
the audience.
Of course one does not have to stray too far to notice diverging
theological claims in Judaism itself. According to Leff, while Reform
and Orthodox Jews say the Shema (Jewish prayer proclaiming
God's unity), "We all don't agree on what it means."
Still, Leff was careful to point out that Judaism has always been
tolerant of a wide range of theological beliefs. Furthermore, he
believes that most Jews agree that there is one God, "And everything,
both good and evil, comes from God."
Elaborating on this idea, Leff employed a story from Exodus where
God is speaking to Moses from a burning bush.
"And the Midrash asked the question: 'Why did God speak from
a lowly bush?' Why not from a grand, beautiful, stately tree?"
Leff said. "And the teaching is, that there's no place at all
that is devoid of God's presence."
In the end, Leff believes God wants Jews to do the right thing,
which is, "Obeying the commandments given at Sinai. By this
act, we're doing God's essential work in the world."
Polanco concurred.
"A great deal of Rabbi Leff's description of God is what [Christians]
believe as well."
As an example, he offered a creed within Christianity that states,
"God is one." Polanco also reiterated Leff's claim that
"everything comes from God."
Then Polanco's comparisons were replaced by a confession.
"[Christians] began to say things about God that really made
a great deal of our Jewish brothers and sisters very uncomfortable....
God became part of his creation. Jesus became something of what
God was or is."
To understand this claim, Polanco explained that God's purpose,
from the very beginning, was to save humankind and that His desire
to save is a result of God's love for His creation. Pulling these
ideas together, Polanco claimed, "The inner essence of God's
love was so great that the words took on flesh."
In Islam, it appears things are much clearer. According to Khanzadeh,
the concept of God is very simple.
"Unlike Judaism, Muslims don't philosophize and theologize
about God," he said. "For us, God is one. Islam is based
on very strict monotheism."
Khanzadeh described Islamic culture, ethics, institutions and values
as deriving specifically from monotheistic ideals.
"Belief and behavior are supposed to be in sync with each other.
If one compromises the basic belief of Islam, they are no longer
Muslim."
Khanzadeh agreed with Leff that the "hand of God" is not
to be taken literally. However, he does not describe it as an anthropomorphism.
"God does not create anything [lightly]," he explained,
adding that, on the contrary, God creates everything, including
descriptions of Himself, with a purpose.
Addressing the question of evil in the world and God's role in its
existence, Khanzadeh believes God gave man "partial" freewill.
As such, man is responsible for his own actions. If you violate
one of God's tenets, you are responsible for the consequences. Again,
his message was simple: "Yes there's evil, but somehow we create
evil ourselves."
In the end, it was Leff quoting the Prophet Micha, 6:8, that best
summarized the tone of the evening.
" 'He's told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires
of you: Only to do justice, and to love goodness, and to walk modestly
with your God.' "
Perhaps that one verse, more than any other, is one on which Jews,
Christians and Muslims can communally agree.
Avrum Nadigel is a Vancouver freelance writer and project
manager for MN8 SOUND, a record label/recording studio for at-risk
youth.
^TOP
|
|
