No peace without dialogue

Swami Shilananda, in A Rainbow of Feasts: An Inter-religious Appreciation as well as one of the Sakhis attribute a similar incident to Guru Nanak when he was called away from this world. Shilananda holds that Guru Nanak, following in the footsteps of Kabir, "began preaching, `there is no Hindu, there is no Mussalman’. Little did he imagine that in the future there would be Sikhs in addition to Hindus and Muslims". Like Kabir, Guru Nanak too thought beyond specific religions and doctrines. For them, the relationship of human beings to God and to one another forms the core of religion. One finds a similar vein of thought in Islam. Speaking of the role of humanity Bukhariwrites in Kitab al-Iman, "Mankind is a fold every member of which is a shepherd unto every other, and will be accountable for the welfare of the entire fold." There is no mention here of a person of any specific persuasion, but of `mankind’ and `the entire fold’.

The criterion which Jesus set for the day of judgment and entry into heaven can also be viewed as reward or punishment for one’s karma. Though it does not speak of cycles of rebirth in the Hindu sense, it assures an individual of a place in or out of heaven according to deeds done unto others.

There is a growing trend in Christian theology today which calls for greater dialogue among various religions. Though new to Christianity, this is not really new to the world. Religious gurus, holy men and women have always had a broad vision encompassing the entire human race and the totality of each being in relation to the Ultimate Being. The examples above amply illustrate that. Islam, which is sometimes considered less tolerant than other religions,has a verse in the Holy Quran: "…In whatsoever Books God hath sent down do I believe: I am commanded to decide justly between you: God is your Lord and our Lord: we have the result of our works and you have the result of your works: between us and you, let there be no strife: God will make us all one: and to Him shall we return." (Quran 42:15)

What therefore emerges is a case for greater understanding among and between followers of world religions leading us, hopefully, to the conviction expressed by Hans Kung in his Global Responsibility, "No human life together without a world ethic for the nations; no peace among the nations without peace among the religions; no peace among the religions without dialogue among the religions".