Religion And Peace: Christianity And Islam

Christianity and Islam are the two largest religions in the world, who strive in creating a “better world” through the oneness of humanity and good deeds with the guidance of sacred texts. With the influence of the Quran and Hadith, Muslims are able to live out a life of sole devotion to Allah, striving for personal peace as well as strengthening their submission to Him. Christians are guided by the Bible and other teachings of Jesus, such as the commandment of love, which allows adherents to become unified in love and charity for the kingdom of God. Through different organisations and leaders of both faiths, adherents contribute to inner and world peace, such as Anglicare, Archbishop Emiratis Desmond Tutu, Maajid Nawaz, and the implications of the Christchurch attack in 2019.

Christians contribute to inner and world peace through good deeds and organisations with the influence of gospels and principle teachings. Jesus’ commandment of love 'Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart… thy soul… and thy mind,' (Matthew 22:37), teaches adherents that they should endeavour to be at peace with themselves before seeking reconciliation where there is disharmony within humanity. This principle also enables adherents to restore and heal their spiritual mind, mentally preparing themselves for the injustices found throughout communities today. An organisation that supports the changing needs of communities, as well as adherents, is Anglicare Syndey. Anglicare is a non-profit organisation which focuses on supporting those in need, as well as promoting the gospel of Jesus in love and peace, whilst continuing to value each person made in the image of God. According to the CEO of Anglicare, “The Christian gospel and its message of reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ is at the heart of Anglicare Sydney and what it is we seek to do for people in God’s grace.” This organisation runs a program called the Reconciliation Action Plan 2017, which aims to restore, respect, brings opportunities, and peace for Indigenous Australians and plays an ongoing role in healing and building positive relationships between program takers. According to Anglicare, “Australians recognise the injustices of the past” and with this Action Plan, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians can “chart a new way forward characterised by justice, dignity, peace, opportunity and hope for all Australians” to “live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:11-16). As members of the organisation, adherents are able to further develop their own self-peace and reconciliation by helping and supporting those in need. This harmonious sense of self-love of the mind and spirit stated in Matthew 22:37, creates an oneness in their faith in God but also faith in themselves and finding their own inner peace. This contribution of adherents in reconciliation and hope is further supported by Biblical scripture in finding inner peace and creating a world of coexistence. Christian adherents demonstrate Jesus’ commandment of love in finding world peace, especially when addressing contemporary issues such as negative behaviour towards the LGBTQI communities. In Matthew’s gospel 22:39, its states that “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” which in order to create a better, loving world, adherents must love their “neighbours” or strangers as they love themselves. With issues surrounding negative commentary on LGBTQI communities, a well-renowned leader in the Christian community has stepped forward and guided adherents in the way of homosexuality. Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a well-known human rights activist who supports and defends the persecuted in South Africa, and in the Christian community. Desmond Tutu makes two contributions to this advocacy for the LGBTQI people. One of these contributions is on route with mainstream Christianity, whereas the other challenges broadly accepted notions of homosexuality within Christianity. He not only defends the rights of the LGBTQI people but also affirms their homosexuality as ‘good’ and ‘God-given’ and in need of celebrating. By providing theological arguments of defending human rights and celebrating homosexuality, he provoked debates against Christian leaders stating that “there is no scientific basis or generic rationale for love”. Tutu identifies that all people are created in the image of God (1 Corinthians 11:7), and apart of His Kingdom, therefore, all of humanity should be treated equally and in harmony. By challenging mainstream Christians and leading example for adherents, Tutu has started a movement for Christians in opportunities of supporting and defending the undefendable and enabling a community where harmony and peace live as one.

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In Islam, world peace is only achievable when an individual gains inner peace, or greater jihad, which is a result of total submission to Allah. Obligatory prayers, or Salat, provide Muslims with opportunities for direct interaction with Allah, ultimately resulting in inner peace and taqwa. The pillars of Islam such as Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj, are all means of spiritual development in perfect submission to Allah and help ensure adherents strive for eternal peace in paradise (Al-Jana). The Hadith states that “the Greater Jihad is to better your own soul to fight the evil within oneself”, which is understood to be the struggle against the individual’s ego and selfish desire. Maajid Nawaz was a former member of the Islamic extremist group in Egypt where he reflected and recognised flaws within himself and his ego before announcing his leave from the extremists. Currently, Nawaz works with organisations today, such as Amnesty International, addressing crowds, giving conferences and organising programs to raise awareness on global and religious issues. Nawaz is an example of how he found his inner peace as he today helps others to find theirs, and by raising awareness, he is also bringing light to other issues globally. Through the Islamic belief of Akhira and the Day of Judgement, by expanding on one’s Greater Jihad, adherents are able to strengthen their submission to Allah. Muslims, such as Nawaz, is provided with a sense of security knowing their good deeds will help them to enter the afterlife. In 2019, there was a horrific attack on a Christchurch Mosque, and the Grand Mufti of Australia and Catholic Archbishop of Sydney led an interfaith church service where leaders of both faiths urged unity and harmony, “O, people, come to a word that is common between us and you” (Quran 2:256). The Grand Mufti stated that the perpetrator of the attack “will not divide us” and as a response to this hate crime, the interfaith service demonstrated the teaching of responding evil with goodness in its entirety. This teaching encourages Muslims to respond to negativity or conflicts with positivity. By living out this teaching of positivity, Muslims foster harmonious and peaceful relationships, preventing any further conflicts or issues, and “repel evil by that deed which is better” (Surah 41).

Adherents of the Islamic faith demonstrate inner and world peace through the beliefs of the oneness of Allah, interfaith dialogue and coexistence, and undoing wrongdoings with positive responses. These good deeds for Muslims will ultimately allow them to passage into the afterlife and paradise where the soul spends eternity with Allah as a reward for one’s life work on submission.