The door of faith in dialogue
In Christian theology faith is defined as a theological virtue which enables us to believe whatever God has revealed without doubting. In ordinary life faith and trust go hand in hand with wisdom. For instance, if a student does not have faith in a particular teacher the student is likely going to fail the subject […]
In Christian theology faith is defined as a theological virtue which enables us to believe whatever God has revealed without doubting. In ordinary life faith and trust go hand in hand with wisdom. For instance, if a student does not have faith in a particular teacher the student is likely going to fail the subject the teacher teaches. A patient needs to have trust, confidence and faith in a medical doctor for quick recovery and healing. Without faith life generally becomes a bore and the future becomes bleak. It is revealed in the Qur’an that whoever receives wisdom (hikmeth) has received abundant goodness; but none heed advice except men of understanding (Qur’an 2: 269). Wisdom as an ability to reach a right decision is based on what is revealed and accepted in faith and reason. This is like a sailing ship with a compass and all the given equipments that enables the sailor go far and beyond to discover the beauties of the Creator in the universe and social life. In this journey, faith and reason are like two boats that roar to keep the sailors on the straight path. The Fountain Magazine of UFUK dialogue foundation teaches this very clearly and shows how Muslims in Turkey are able to combine faith, reason and scientific discovery in evangelizing the world to open up to the reality of life.
This year of faith is an opportunity God has given to us to think again about our origin and destiny. God did not create anybody to destroy him /her. God created each and every one of us for a reason. There is something that God wants us to do in this world to add value to humanity. This assignment is given to us in a very personal way such that if we do not do it, that gift will be lost forever. The year of faith invites us to read the scriptures, the document of the second Vatican Council (Vatican II) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church as guide to open for us the door of faith. “The words of the Lord are pure words like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (Psalm 12, 6).The Scriptures are so important in faith building to the extent that God told the prophet of Islam that if he is in doubt concerning that which Allah has revealed to him, he should ask those who have read the Scriptures (Qur’an 10:94). This could explain why Muhammad (SAW) was very friendly with Christians like Jabr, Waraqa ibn Naufai (the cousin of Khadija), Uthman ibn Huwairith, Addas, Salman, Suhaib, King Negrus, the Abyssinian monks etc. Some wives of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) like Umm Habbibah, Miriam, Sirin were formerly Christians. According to Ibn Ishaq, Abdu’llah ibn Salam was a Jewish Rabbi and a good friend of the prophet who got converted to Islam and became an expert in the recitation of the Qur’an. This relationship with Jews and Christians was however misunderstood and criticized by some Arabs who concluded that the messages of the Prophet were learnt from men (cf. Qur’an 16:103; 25, 4-6).
The point I am trying to make here is the importance of scriptures as a formidable key to open the door of faith that can lead to salvation and true happiness in this life and hereafter. Given the context of our world today, the Christians should go beyond reading the bible and the teachings of the Church to a deep and critical study of the sacred books of other religions. This will promote sincere dialogue and peaceful coexistence given that the God of Christians is the one God who created everybody irrespective of religion, culture, colour and tribal differences. A scientific study of another’s religion is a panacea to brainwashing and indoctrination. Before then we need to study and understand our individual scriptures and professed faith. The word of God is a lamp for the feet and a light on the path (Psalm 11, 105). For John, the WORD is eternal, incarnate and dwells among us (John 1). It is “that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have touched…to bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the father and was manifested to us” (1 John 1, 1-2). We must therefore believe in ourselves and our nation. We need to revisit the good values of our ancestors by transforming our communal life to a living Eucharist. This is one way of making the Eucharistic congress relevant and practical in this year of faith. We can symbolically become the bread broken and shared for others and the wine poured forth to cheer the hearts of people without prejudice and preconceptions. We can transform ourselves to good shepherds by becoming one another’s keeper to give real meaning to our pastoral congresses. If we become the door of faith to others then we can make the world a foretaste of heaven! Believe you can do this for nothing is difficult for a willing heart.
Fr (Prof) Omonokhua is the Director of Mission and Dialogue of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja and Consultor for the Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims (CRRM), Vatican City, Rome