Nearly three dozen people spent part of a rainy Sunday afternoon on June 16 listening to representatives of seven religions share information and discuss the philosophical concepts of oneness and many, their personal experiences and how these concepts pertain to their faiths.
The 2019 Cleveland Conference of Religions had its spring convocation at John Carroll University. Despite occasional downpours and the potential threat of a tornado, attendees were engaged in learning and expanding their views about other faiths.
The takeaway is that despite their differences, the seven religions all have a single god and therefore, a “oneness.”
Father Joseph Hilinski, pastor of St. Barbara Parish in Cleveland and director of Interfaith Affairs for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, facilitated the event.
Jamaal Billingsley of the Baha’i faith said there is unity in many. “The number one exists in all numbers. We must unite as global citizens, setting a foundation for world peace. God planted a seed of growth in our faiths and a way to propagate it,” he added.
Ven. Shih Ying-fa said followers of Buddhism, like himself, believe that oneness and "manyness" are not necessarily separate. From the Buddhist perspective, he said there are causes and conditions and an interdependence. “These phenomena are linked; they don’t exist independently,” he said, adding that we are all part of an infinite reality, “if we are wise, compassionate and loving enough to see it.”
Speaking on behalf of Catholics and Christians, Father Hilinski shared thoughts about God and unity, explaining that the faith is about unity. “God wants us all to be in unity. “Christians begin with the belief that our founder – Jesus – said, ‘I am the vine and you are the branches.” He said we believe that as Christians, God has become close to the human race, sharing his son as our redeemer.
There was unity in India at one time, said Dr. Surinder Bhardwaj, and then chaos ensued, which created a rift. He said those who were friends and coexisted peacefully became enemies and were not tolerant of others. “We need to honestly deal with the differences,” he said, in order to achieve unity once again. “One god permeates the universe and protects us. That’s to whom we pray.”
Kushal Baid spoke on behalf of the Jain religion, which is a minority faith in India. Followers believe that each living being – animals, people and vegetation – all have body and soul, with karma affecting each being with positive and negative effects on the soul. “Human form is the highest form. All have to be in human form and purify their soul before reaching liberation,” he said, adding that Jainists see oneness in creation and do not believe in causing any harm.
“God is one and unique. He is the creator and the cause of causes,” said Dr. Zeki Saritoprak, as he talked about Muslim beliefs. “Humans are reflections of the divine.” He said god has unlimited knowledge and power. “All human beings are compatible. All come from one, therefore all are compatible.”
Dr. Gurdas Dass said Sikhs believe that god is one and is responsible for birth, the maintenance of life and he takes life. “God is responsible for the whole cycle. God is the true creator of the universe; he is timeless.”
Attendees asked questions and shared thoughts after the presentations on each faith. A consensus was that the session was a good thing and there is a need to continue the dialogue.
One woman noted that sometimes young people enter extremism or give up entirely on religion. She said it’s important not to become so attached to a religion that it’s used as a weapon.
“This is a great opportunity for us all to learn from each other,” another said.
The goal of the Cleveland Conference of Religions is to disseminate accurate information about religions; to introduce persons for whom religion is a vital and controlling force in their life to persons of other religions; to contribute to a deeper understanding of the various religions found in Northeast Ohio and to foster peace, harmony and goodwill among human beings.
For more information on the Interfaith Commission, contact Father Hilinski at jhilinski@dioceseofcleveland.org.
