We spend five minutes with the Rev. Manas Ghosh, Minister at Lindfield Uniting Church and member of the National Working Group on Relations with Other Faiths.
How did you become interested in interfaith work?
I was born and brought up in India, which is the most multi-religious country in the world. Wherever you go in India whether its school, college, university, workplace, market, club, I mean anywhere, you rub your shoulders with people from different faith backgrounds. You are surrounded by people of different faiths and in your daily activities you encounter them. For me it was a great privilege and joy to know God’s love and friendship through these people and to live a peaceful and harmonious life with others. So it was not something that I grew in myself, it was very much a part and parcel of my life. I studied, worked and socialised with people from different faiths, understanding them, their beliefs, ethics, philosophy of life and their world view. It was never confrontational rather it was enlightening and enriching.
What motivates you to continue fostering interfaith relationship?
My motivation to continue fostering interfaith relationship stems from my experience in India where more than one billion people of diverse religious backgrounds live peacefully. As I look at the present day world I see lots of distrust, misunderstanding and prejudice among people which causes unrest in society and lack of peace. And Australia is no exception in this matter. So for me theologian Hans Kung’s observation has become a mantra:
“No peace among the nations without peace among the religions. No peace among the religions without dialogue between the religions.” It’s the peace in the world and among the people that motivates me to continue interfaith work.
Have you attended an interfaith event in the last month?
Last month I took a group of people belonging to a number of different churches to the Sikh Temple in Turramurra. We were deeply moved by their welcome, friendship and hospitality. We attended their worship and joined them in the community meal called Langar. We had informal discussions about their worship, beliefs and practices. As we have been studying World Religions it was a practical experience of real dialogue with people.