Religious conference brings many faiths together

Tyler Olsen, The Times
Published: Friday, May 14, 2010

Forget what you see on the news or read about in the (other) papers. According to Rizwan Peerzada, faith is a unifying force, even among different religions.

Peerzada's Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will host its first World Religions Conference on Saturday at the University of the Fraser Valley's Chilliwack Campus.

Representatives of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam will discuss the weighty question of whether there is life after death. (Organizers sought, but did not find, Jewish and atheist representatives to take part).

Peerzada hopes that the free conference will show that different religions have much in common.
"We want to bring that unity in the religion that yes, OK, we have the differences but we can co-exist together in spite of the differences," he told the Times.

Peerzada pointed to Jewish, Christian and Islamic roots ties to Abraham, as well as similarities between the deities of the different religions.

And he said those who attend the conference will learn that religion teaches peace not hatred.

Such conferences have been organized around the world for more than 100 years, and Peerzada himself has helped plan events in more than a dozen British Columbia cities.

As Muslims, Peerzada said "we want to share that . . . Islam teaches only peace. It has been hijacked by some clergy and fanatic people."

By spreading that message, and allowing representatives of other religions a venue to express themselves, organizers hope to build bridges between religious communities.

"We must know about each other," said Peerzada. "Our neighbours could be a Jew, could be a Hindu, could be a Muslim, could be anyone, and not knowing each others' faiths, sometimes you can come to the conclusion of something very different, not a peaceful society."

Seventh Day Adventist pastor Michael Hope, who will represent Christianity at the conference, agreed.

"Whenever we discuss things and learn about what other people agree, it takes away prejudice and helps us understand people of other religions," he told the Times.

- The World Religions Conference takes place Saturday, between 3 and 7 p.m. in the Building D theatre at the University of the Fraser Valley's Chilliwack Campus. Admission is free, although donations will be accepted.

tolsen@chilliwacktimes.com

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Source: http://www2.canada.com/chilliwacktimes/news/story.html?id=daabecff-2928-4215-88ad-a48b9843fbd6

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