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Interfaith
Interfaith Forum is a great success
19th October 2010
Religion plays a hugely important part in all our lives even if we are not religious. To celebrate diversity week, the debates society presented a forum with guest speakers representing the top religions of the world. With student questions taking the panel to topics such as happiness, the afterlife, 9-11 and charity, it turned out to be a deeply insightful and thought provoking event.
The speeches highlighted the vast consensus between Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Humanism on ideas such as love, kindness and charity.
With one question asking the specifics of what each religion believes about the afterlife; opposing views were heard. Alan Johnson (British Humanist Society) answered first by questioning, “Does anyone here really think that when they die they won’t be remembered?” He went on to imply that nothing happens when we die and we only live on through memory and our genes. This was in stark contrast to Seeta Lakhani’s fascinating answer which provided an interesting explanation of the Hindu belief in reincarnation.
There was some controversy when Alan Johnson said that he agreed with Richard Dawkins’ view on faith schools (that there was an, “element of brainwashing children” in many faith schools)
Arguably the most interesting speaker was Amarantho, the Buddhist Monk, who lived his current life following strict rules such as not using or possessing money, not eating after 12 noon and sleeping on the floor. He explained these rules allowed him to focus his life specificly on meditation and seeking happiness.
As far as Thursday lunchtimes go, this was an extremely enlightening event which I’m definitely glad I went to.
Thanks to Amarantho (AFAN), Hameed (Anglia Ruskin Uni), Kay Garlick (Hereford Cathedral), Seeta Lakhani (Hindu Academy), and Alan Johnson (BHM) for speaking and thanks to Marco Martinelli and the debates society for organising the event.