Christianity and World Religions Study

The news is continually filled with wars, tensions and misunderstandings which fall along the lines of religious differences. In days past religious factions were split along geographical lines. Today’s world is smaller. Diversity surrounds us at every turn. Years ago, few people from the United States ever encountered someone of the Hindu, Buddhist or Islamic faith. Today, almost everyone knows someone from one of the world’s five major religions. These people are our neighbors, we work with them, and they go to school with, or even teach, our children. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors. To love the neighbor, we must first seek to understand our neighbor.  

The Friendship Sunday School class will seek to effectively learn about other faith traditions from those who worship, lead and practice these faiths while respecting the traditions, customs and beliefs of these people. Throughout the learning process, they will visit worship sites to see where and how other faith traditions worship and will engage in dialogue with leaders of these faith groups to extend their understanding and to answer questions which may arise.

This study is based on Adam Hamilton’s book, Christianity and World Religions: Wrestling With Questions People Ask. Hamilton is pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City and was named by PBS’s Religion and Ethics Newsweekly as one of the top “Ten People to Watch.” He is the author of numerous books and studies available through Abingdon Press. Hamilton states as his hope for this study is that, “together we might listen for the truth that others have discovered about God, and be better Christians for it…we might sensitively know and understand how to build bridges with people of other faiths and…in the end we can more effectively share with them, invite them to come and see what God has done in Jesus the Christ.” This is our congregation’s hope as well.

Join us Sundays at 9:30 a.m. as we seek to learn together how to build God’s kingdom on earth by Welcoming All God’s People  to our fellowship and building bridges of understanding to All God’s People, who are our neighbors.

Blessings,
Tracy