Interfaith Coalition for Peace, an Interfaith Organisation dedicated to creating peace and harmony between different faith groups, recently organised an interactive interfaith programme on the theme: “Caring for the Creation: Scriptures, Traditions, Communities” in New Delhi.
By Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi
With an aim to initiate a multi-religious collaborative action towards caring for the planet earth, Interfaith Coalition for Peace, an Interfaith Organisation dedicated to creating peace and harmony between different faith groups, recently organised an interactive interfaith programme on the theme: “Caring for the Creation: Scriptures, Traditions, Communities” in New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, Deepali Bhanot, a Sanskrit scholar, said, “Each faith tradition affirms that this universe has been created by God for all beings to live together in full harmony with the nature.” She further said: “As a result of industrialization and urbanization, the ecological balance of the earth has been greatly disturbed. In this age of consumerism, competition and covetousness, the religious teachings that foster the moral and social obligations towards caring for the creations have been forgotten. There is a need to look back to the ancient wisdom of our religious traditions to find ways to stop further degradation of environment on this planet earth.”
Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, a classical Islamic scholar and English-Arabic writer, gave an Islamic perspective on “Caring for the Creation”. He commented, “Clearly, there is an inseparable relation between the environment and our soul.
“From the Qur’anic perspective, Dehlvi said, corruption on the earth is not confined to only political crimes, frauds, theft, rape, illegal banking or other prevalent malpractices. Deforestation, toxic waste, pesticides, and cutting so many trees on the earth are also grave corruption and, hence, brazen violation of the true Islamic universal values”, he said.
Mr. Prakash from Vidyajyoti College, New Delhi succinctly presented a Christian perspective on this issue. He said that each faith tradition has its own unique story of creation that affirms that this universe has been created by God for all living beings to live together in harmony with Nature. “While all faith traditions teach us to be grateful towards the bounties of nature that nourish and sustain us, modern science and technology seek to conquer and control it”, he said.
A number of Muslim, Christian and Hindu students and scholars participated in this inter-faith interaction, including students of Vidyajyoti College, a Catholic seminary, and an Islamic institute, the Jamia Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia.
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