Bulletin 12: Opening the mind - Avoiding Indifference.
Greetings to everyone. The subject here is ECUMENISM, that is having respectful and helpful relations with other faiths, especially in Christianity, on which the Uniting Church provides a good example. But in the Australian wider community ecumenism seems to have a limited impact. It's a lone and pathetic call that deserves intensive support against public intolerance and indifference to Christianity here, So the discussion is about 2 people of modern times, rather than in the Biblical times, who are ecumenical examples and distinguished lovers of God.
Firstly, Emir Abedelkader (AKA Abedelkader El Hassani El Djazairi) 1808-1883. He was an Algerian religious and military leader, struggling against the French colonial invasion in the mid-19th century.. An Islamic scholar and Sufi, he led a military campaign of poorly resources tribesmen to hold out against the well equipped French for several years. His great regard for human rights, especially of his Christian opponents, drew admiration world-wide. This ability to combine religious and political authority had him acclaimed as "Saint among the Princes, the Prince among the Saints". Abedelkader received a decoration from the Pope, a Legion of Honour from the French and recognition of US President, Abraham Lincoln. So what was Abedelkader's understanding?
He loved education, admired the Greek Philosophers and forbade his fighters to destroy books. Finally exiled from Algeria he settled in Damascus, died there and was buried alongside the Sufi Master and mystical writer Ibn Arabi. Focused on the love of God he easily found affinities with other God seekers, especially in Monotheism (one God). He wrote about what to take note of:
. If you think God is what different commnuities believe in-the Muslim, Christians, Jews, Zorastians, Polytheists and others- He is that, but also more. If you think and believe what the prophets, saints and angels profess- He is that, but He is still more".
"None of his creatures worships Him in his entirety. No one is an infidel in all ways relating to God. No one knows all God's facets. Each of his creature's worship and knows him in a certain way and is ignorant of Him in others. Error does not exist in the world except in a relative way".
-From "The Emir Abdi el Kader: Role Model for today". it's time the western world became aware of this great human being.
Another ecumenist was Mother Teresa of the Roman Catholic faith, born in today's North Macedonia. She laboured for years in Calcutta's slums, ministering to the poor and suffering with indifference to her own welfare.. She has been canonized by the Roman Catholic Church and declared to be a Saint after 2 examples of miraculous healing and working in different faiths. She was saying:
Peace begins with a smile. There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those. Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. If you judge people you have no time to love them. Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier". (Truly ecumenical words).
Here I end my message.
Blessings to all, AMEN.
- srd