by Denepher Smith

Created on: July 06, 2008

I read with dismay the other day of a school, not far from where I live, which had reportedly punished two pupils for failing to participate in a Muslim prayer session. Before any reader jumps to conclusions, let me clarify that I have no issue with Muslims per se, the issue is one of imposed religious beliefs. It appears that in trying to be unbiased and to allow full expression of Muslim worship in a predominantly non Muslim area, the school authorities became over zealous and, in effect, attempted to force the Muslim faith on non believers. I know that many Muslims were equally horrified at what was reported as it presented a negative image of their faith. As the matter is currently being investigated and I have no further insider knowledge of the matter, I will leave my commentary on this particular incident there. Of course Christianity has over many years and in many places been presented in the same way; as an imposition.

What the incident does serve to illustrate however, is the inappropriateness and counter productivity of such practice. Religious belief, of whatever nature, is a personal experience, derived from weighing up the 'truisms' which life presents. A child born into a religious home may acquire and accept a particular view as passed on by parents but as life experiences are added that initial belief system is either affirmed or rejected by the developing adults' person experiences and expanded knowledge base. Only when these beliefs are made their own can it be said that they have a faith. True faith cannot be imposed, it can only be experienced.

As one who's acquired faith is in the person of Christ, let me give his explanation; from the 'horses mouth' so to speak. A group of people (disciples) had been called to follow Christ; they had the belief: he was someone special, worth believing in , they'd heard and accepted the 'propaganda'. However this was not what was needed, so Christ asked them two questions: "whom do men (other people) say that I am? (Mark 8 27-33). They expressed what their knowledge was. He then asked them the relevant question: "but who do YOU say that I am?" in other words, what impact have I made on you personally, what is your understanding of me? On that occasion, it appeared only Simon Peter had experienced the translation of belief into faith. The Christian faith was never meant to be imposed, it was always meant to be acquired.

So whatever the religion in question is, its only merit will be in the ability of the holder to translate those beliefs into actions which when viewed by others will confirm what is being taught by words. Most religious (and I now see that there is a new religion called Science ) people would express a responsibility to convey to others what they believe to be the truth. These people are at liberty to advertise as is anyone else trying to get other people's attention for what they see as a valuable commodity, but they have no right, or indeed in the case of Christianity, no mandate to force it down other people's throats.

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