Understanding and Witnessing Other Religions Essay

Introduction

Religion is a fundamental part of the human consciousness. Apart from giving the typical societal values and forming a basis for morals, faith can act as a basis for human interactions. Religion is based on faith, and each these belief dictates the life and nature of human interactions under it. Unification of a denomination is a good idea to end the stereotype caused in society. Hence, religious unification depends on the understanding of the basis of people’s beliefs and applies a tactic that can flatten out the differences and accentuate the mutual collective religious significance.

Baha’ism Teachings

Baha’ism is a religion centered on liberty where people pay reference to God or not. Baha’is believes that human beings have the freedom to accept or reject God. Therefore, the Baha’i religion encourages people to use their interest in understanding religion and the world, citing that true faith is compatible with reason.¹ According to the Baha’i teachings, God is single and all-powerful. The Baha’i is centered under Baha’u’llah’s instructions, a prophet noted as the founder of this religion. It recognizes other religions; hence, it teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people.

Witnessing to Muslim

Islam is based on five main pillars and an additional sixth controversial pillar called the jihad. This jihad is what separates a Muslim and a Muslim extremist. It is essential to understand the concept of another religion before engaging in any discussion about that religion.² It is appropriate to address the idea when witnessing both a Muslim and a Muslim extremist. Hence, there should be a difference in addressing jihad idealism because it is understood differently among the Muslims and Muslim extremists.

Islamic Stereotype in America

Overcoming Muslim stereotypes in America is very challenging. Three prevalent Muslim stereotypes in America come from Muslim ideology in line with their religiosity, views on women, and perspectives on LGBTQI+ groups. It is difficult to eliminate the Muslim stereotype in America because the Islamic religion will never accept the advances in sexual orientation issues in their community.³ Therefore, America can stop the Muslim stereotype by acknowledging the value of purity emanating from the Islamic faith.

Experiences and Lessons from Islamic

I have witnessed to Muslims. It is challenging because Muslims know their religion by recitation. Convincing Muslims based on different doctrines other than the ones found in their region is challenging. However, an individual becomes dangerous following a misleading religious concept. Islam means submission to God. Engaging a Muslim in a religion-based talk, one must understand and emanate that Islam is based on reference to God.⁴ Therefore, one should approach a Muslim with the concept of worshipping one God and the mission to establish the community.

Given a chance, I will use a straightforward approach to witness to a Muslim. Listening and recording everything the other party knows and the basis of their arguments. I will ask questions to get more information in scenarios I have not understood. Instead of criticizing, I will share the word precisely as I know it without shunning controversial ideas and topics. The last step is showing hospitality to the Muslims.⁵ It is easier to win someone over through sharing with them and showing them love.

Conclusion

The Baha’ism religion unification ideology can transform the world. However, before indulging in a witness confrontation with someone from a different religion, it is crucial to understand the fundamentals of the other religion and gain information mandatory in convincing the other party. Apart from generosity, living an exemplary life and confessing the truth itself in a convincing remark.

Bibliography

Corduan, Winfried. Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions. InterVarsity Press, 2013. ISBN-13:9780830839704

Inloes, Amina. “Stereotyping Religion: Comparing Clichés, ed. Brad Stoddard and Craig Martin.” Journal of the Contemporary Study of Islam 1, no. 1 (2020), 55-57.

Netland, Harold A. Christianity and Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a Globalizing Age. Baker Academic, 2015.

Word Count: 593

Footnotes

1. Corduan, Winfried. Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions. (InterVarsity Press, 2013), Chapter 5, 61.
2. Netland, Harold A. Christianity and Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian Commitments in a Globalizing Age. (Baker Academic, 2015), Chapter 5, 11.
3. Corduan, Neighboring Faiths, Chapter 4, 38.
4. Corduan, Neighboring Faiths, Chapter 3, 4.
5. Inloes, Amina. “Stereotyping Religion: Comparing Clichés, ed. Brad Stoddard and Craig Martin.” Journal of the Contemporary Study of Islam 1, no. 1 (2020), 55.