The Importance of Understanding and Respect for Other Faiths
Verses:1 Samuel 5 "After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold. The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, inflicting them with tumors. When the people of Ashdod saw how much they were suffering, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.”
As Jews and Christians, we believe that the Ark of the Covenant was a physical representation of God's presence among His people. We believe that God dwelled between the cherubim on the mercy seat, and that the Ark was a symbol of His presence and power. In fact, the Ark was so sacred that the Israelites believed that God's presence was literally dwelling within it.
In Hinduism, idols and images are used in worship as a way to focus one's mind and heart on the ultimate God. Hindus believe that the idols are not God Himself, but rather a physical representation of the divine. In the same way that the Ark of the Covenant was a physical representation of God's presence among the Israelites, Hindu idols are also seen as a physical representation of the divine presence in the world.
It's interesting to note that both Jews and Christians have used physical objects in worship throughout history. For example, the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle, and the Temple in Jerusalem were all physical structures that represented God's presence among His people. Similarly, many Christians today use physical objects such as crosses, icons, and statues in worship, although classical Christianity disowns such practices.
Despite these similarities, many Jews and Christians have historically criticized Hinduism and other Eastern religions for their use of idols and images in worship. We have often viewed these practices as "idolatrous" and "pagan," without taking the time to understand the underlying theology and philosophy. However, my intention is not to endorse or criticize any particular religion, but rather to encourage understanding and empathy.
When we take the time to learn about other faiths, we often discover that we have less to criticize them for. In fact, when we apply the same standards to ourselves, we may find that we are also guilty of similar shortcomings. Nevertheless, through this process of learning and self-reflection, we begin to see that we are all searching for the same thing: a connection with the divine, a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Whether or not one finds accurate spiritual fulfillment is a separate issue.
In fact, knowing other religions deeply is the only way to be delivered from criticizing other faiths and religions. When we take the time to understand, we begin to see that our criticisms are often based on ignorance and misunderstanding.
Idolatry is a sin that can block our attention from the Ultimate reality. Whether Christian or Hindu, idolatry is wrong.
Prayer:
Dear God, we thank you for the reminder to seek understanding and not criticism. Help us to learn about other faiths and to see the commonalities that unite us. May we not judge what we do not understand, but rather seek to understand and learn from others. May we recognize that idolatry is a sin that can creep into our lives in many ways, and may we be careful to keep you as the central focus of our worship and lives. May we also recognize that our differences with other friends are not as great as we thought, and that we are all searching for the same thing: a connection with the divine, a sense of meaning and purpose in life. We pray this in humility and reverence, Amen.