“why I am a christian/buddhist/jew”
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INTERFAITH WEEK in November was marked at the Mint with a special
morning service
in which members of the Exeter Interfaith Group spoke of their own faith
Extracts from that service
are included here, including Viv Davies’ presentation
on “Why I am a Christian” together with “The Discourse on Love”,
quoted by Jude Taylorson as part of her presentation “Why I am a Buddhist”,
together with an extract from Andrew Sails’ concluding remarks.
“Why I am a Christian” by Viv Davies
I
need to give a bit of background first to explain how various incidents in my
childhood have influenced my life, thoughts and faith.
I
was brought up in a Christian home with loving parents. We all went to our
small Welsh chapel 3 x on a Sunday; service morning
and evening and Sunday school in the afternoon for adults and children. In my
teenage years I had a lady teacher whom I regard as one of the modern day
unknown Saints, and whose influence is still with me. My parents and Mrs
Roberts taught me how to follow the teachings of Jesus and to accept His Grace,
Forgiveness (whatever I have done), Love for myself and to give His Love to
others. These are some of the most important lessons in Life. As Christian I
believe if more people could live by the guidance which Jesus gave us, the
world would be a happier place.
Despite
this I don’t want it to sound as if I had a bed of roses as a child. When I was
6 yrs old my mother was in a tuberculosis sanatorium for 20 months and I had to
go and live with an aunt whom I didn’t know, and go to a strange school. I
rarely saw my father as on his only day off he had to try and visit my mother.
This was also at the start of the 2nd World War. Shortly after my
mother returned home and we were together again I was taken ill with a burst
appendix and peritonitis. This was before the days of antibiotics and no- one
thought I would survive. My father slept in the hospital for 2-3 wks, and I can
clearly remember him telling me to ask God to make me better, as everyone,
family, friends and people in chapel were praying for me. That feeling of
people praying for me had a tremendous effect on me at 8 yrs old, but I also knew
that God was with me, and was going to make me well again in His own
time. I was in hospital for 6 mths and the
surgeon called me his little miracle and said he hadn’t made me well. I learnt
things in those 6 mths in hospital, dressed in a
little nurses uniform my mother made for me, that I would not have learnt
elsewhere at the age of 8; I saw a little girl of my age, from my village, die
because her parents hadn’t got money to pay for the operation, which my own
cousin had in Liverpool.
As
I grew older and my health improved, I became very convinced that God wanted me
to become a nurse. I was fortunate to train in Liverpool Royal Infirmary, and
in those days we had prayers as we went on duty in the morning around the
Sister’s desk, and again in the evening as we went off duty. This all strengthened
my feeling that God was there with us on the wards, and I am sure the patients
felt so too.
Leaving
that hospital, where Faith was carried on from the chapel and home, was a
challenge, although you cannot nurse patients, respect them, and then see some
of them die without questioning the seeming unfairness of life. Jesus did not
say life would be easy, but that He would be with us through all our
troubles.
As
I travelled on my road through life I found many demands and upheavals, the
death of my mother when I was 21, my friend’s brother at 24, a close friend who
was 25. I find I can feel God near me in these painful times, and even
when I have doubts, if I hang on, and keep on hanging on, I can
still feel God’s love around me.
There
were happy times too; getting married, becoming a family with the 4 children,
but even in the midst of this happiness there is sadness particularly with our
son’s mental illness.
With
joining the Iona Community I found people with whom I could discuss anything,
we certainly don’t all agree, but we all respect each other’s views. I met and
am inspired by many wonderful people who show me yet again the different
aspects of God’s LOVE, and how to work for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of
Creation. I have learnt how we can try and alter situations, maybe by
demonstrating, or writing letters, to bring about a change which is nearer to
the teachings of Jesus.
I often find praying and
trying to keep my mind focussed difficult. The author of the book of Hebrews in
the New Testament writes:- “ Faith is being sure of what we hope for and
certain of what we do not see” I like that and I find if I just stop and am
still and try and let my worries rest in God’s HANDS, I feel His LOVE
around me. It is His Love, as taught by Jesus, which keeps me a Christian.
From 'Discourse on Love' from the Plum
Village Chanting Book
quoted by Jude Taylorson during her talk on “Why I am a Buddhist”:
“May all beings live insecurity and peace -beings who
are frail or strong, tall or short, big
or small, visible or not visible, near or faraway, already born or yet to be
born. May or of them dwell in perfect tranquility.
Let no one do harm to anyone, let no one put the life
of anyone in danger, let no one, out of anger or ill will, wish anyone any harm.
Just as a mother loves and protects her only child at
the risk of her own life, we should cultivate boundless love to offer to all
living beings in the entire cosmos. We
should let our boundless love pervade the whole universe, above, below and
across. Our love will know no obstacles.
Our hearts will be absolutely free from hatred and enmity. Whether standing or walking, sitting or
lying, as long as we are awake, we should maintain this mindfulness of love in
our own heart. This is the noblest way
of living. Free from wrong views,
greed and sensual desire, living in beauty and realizing Perfect Understanding,
those who practice boundless love will certainly transcend birth and death”
(Metta Sutta,
Sutta Nipata)
Excerpt from Andrew Sails’ concluding
comments on Interfaith Dialogue:
Thank
you to Tony, Jude and Viv for your words this morning.
As Jews, Christians and Buddhists, we understand the world in many different
ways - and yet in the midst of all that there is so much we share - a commitment
to love and peace, to wisdom and enlightenment.
I
am aware that historically Christianity has often been highly critical of and
often (to our shame) downright hostile towards those of other faiths. Thankfully that is not where we are here at
the Mint. It is a joy for us to host
the Exeter Interfaith Group here at the Mint - and a joy for me to share with
Jude and Tony and others in the University Multi-faith Chaplaincy Team.
But
there may be a few people here today who question whether Christians have
anything to learn from those of other faiths.
I
am particularly aware that for some of our Korean members, relations between
Buddhism and the Gospel can cause tension and stress within individual
communities and families back home, and this is not necessarily easy territory
for you.
So
let me very briefly add my personal testimony to those which have gone before
(and some of this I have said on such occasions before):
If
you were to ask me what gives meaning to my life - how do I make sense of
suffering and death and the power of evil in the world, then I would point you
to figure of Christ and the Gospel – and say “There is my window on God, and I
would not change it for any other way of seeing.” And if you were to ask me – “Can you recommend
a way to find love and peace and truth and justice? I would point you unerringly to the figure of
Christ, for I know no better guide.
That’s why I am a Methodist Minister and why I would happily share that
faith and encourage others to journey with me.
But,
whilst this is the faith that guides my
life, this does not mean that others may not find other ways to understand and
live their lives. And if - as is the
case - none of us is able to understand fully the infinite truth of the
universe, then we should perhaps have a natural humility when others find other
ways up the mountain to truth and understanding.
I
remain a committed follower of Jesus - who alone makes sense of my life,
forgives my sins, and shows the way to the Kingdom of justice and peace.
I invite you all to follow his way. But
none the less do I affirm and rejoice in those of other faiths who take their
own journey into truth.
May
the day come when we all see - not as in a mirror dimly, but face to face. Then shall all
our partial truths be as one, and all our hearts united as one.
Order of Service
November 15th 2009 Start of Interfaith Week
10.30 a.m. Morning Worship led by Rev Andrew Sails
with Members of Exeter Interfaith Group
Hymn 36 “God is love”
Prayers
All Age
Ministry
Hymn
SOF 40 “Be still” (주의 임재 앞에 잠잠해)
[David J. Evans
© 1986 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music. CCLI
No 58752]
The Peace
Minister; Let us share God’s
blessing.
Adults; The peace of the Lord be
with you
Young
Church; And
also with you.
Minister; Go in peace. (Young
people leave for their own sessions)
Reading: Mt 6:19-27 (p.971)
Responsive
Psalm HAP 850 (Psalm 46)
“Why I am a Jew” - Tony Reese
Hymn 56 “Praise to the Living God” (Mediaeval Jewish
Doxology)
“Why I am a Buddhist” - Jude Taylorson
Hymn “In star and
crescent”
(© Mary Louise Bringle 2001
- draft new Methodist Hymn Collection CCLI 58752)
“Why I am a Christian” - Viv Davies
Hymn “Love is the
Touch“
(during this hymn the collection will be
taken)
(© Alison M Robertson & John L
Bell 1998 - Common Ground CCLI 58752)
Many Faiths
- Brief Concluding Reflection - Andrew Sails
Prayers of
Intercession
Lord’s
Prayer
Hymn 230 “There’s a
wideness in God’s mercy”
Blessing