Many Voices, One Prayer
Amidst the ongoing West Asia crisis and other
global issues adversely impacting peace and the prevailing climatic conditions worldwide,
voices rose in harmony advocating interfaith bonhomie, mutual understanding,
and tolerance for restoring peace and ensuring climatic justice.
The event was an interfaith seminar on ‘Climate Justice’, organized jointly by the Christian Institute for Religious Studies (CIRS) and Baring Institute of Theology, Batala, under the aegis of The Right Reverend Manoj Charan, Bishop, Diocese of Amritsar (DoA), Church of North India (CNI).
Delivering the keynote address, The Right Reverend Manoj Charan emphasized the urgent need to address climate justice, urging people to be sensitive towards nature and to embrace their role as stewards of creation, drawing insights from the Holy Bible.
Dr Tariq Ahmad, an Islamic scholar and spokesperson of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in India, presented the Islamic perspective on Climate Justice. He highlighted the teachings of the Holy Quran and the message of the Prophet Muhammad, stressing responsibility towards the environment.
Advocate Sukhvir Panwan shared insights from Sikhism, while Prof Neeraj Sharma of Baring Union Christian College elaborated on the concept of environmental responsibility through Hindu philosophy. Rev Dr Pulak Samantaroy, Officiating Director of CIRS and Principal of Baring Institute of Theology, addressed the gathering by motivating the interfaith community and highlighting the role of faith communities in promoting Climate Justice.
The seminar was also attended by several distinguished guests, including Dr Derick Engles (Secretary, BUCCA), Rev Sohan Lal, Rev Mushtaq A Malk, Rev Markus, Dr Ashani Kansra, Mr Narinder Singh, Mrs Sonika, and Mr Abhishek Mitschell.
The participants vowed to care for the environment, uphold their responsibility as stewards of creation, and work towards peace and harmony in society. The gathering also made a unified appeal to the Government to incorporate environmental sensitivity in policymaking and its implementation. The seminar stood as a strong example of interfaith unity, demonstrating how diverse religious traditions can come together to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time.
