Stuttgart, Germany - About 30 people gathered in the UPF center in Stuttgart on June 1 to attend an interreligious event on the topic of "The Role and Significance of Parents from a Religious Point of View."
After the introductions, Volker Steinlein from Christian Science gave the first presentation. His ideas can be summarized thus: humans were created in the image and likeness of God; that is, with divine qualities. Mary Baker Eddy described God as having the nature of parents; as father-mother-God. God takes care of his children, guides and leads them. From the example of Daniel in the Old Testament, the love of God is to be seen as the greatest commandment above all others and results in protection and blessing. Mary Baker Eddy wrote: "Jesus loved the little children because they are free of wrong and open to the right." The love which comes from a parental nature is reflected by the children. Children trust their parents deeply and can thus learn from their parents’ insights and experiences. When parents have a deep trust in God’s guidance they can pass this on to their children.
{besps}/images/ftp_uploads/2013/germany/gdp-5111{/besps}Dr. Manfred Schick from the Scientology Church then gave his contribution to the topic. He commented that the children of today will be the civilization of tomorrow. The problem in child rearing lies in the adult and not the child. The best for a child is to have good, stable parents with loving and tolerant hearts. Even a baby tries to make his parents laugh and to catch their attention. Then children try to imitate their parents. There are different types of education. Ron Hubbard found it good for parents simply to be friends with their children. They can help the children to recognize their problems and to find their own solution. Parents wish the best for their children and therefore should be honored (5th commandment of Moses). Happiness is built on a good understanding between parents and children.
Samir El Midani represented the Islamic viewpoint. After an opening prayer to Allah for help and support, he said that the Qur'an teaches us how to deal with the family and society. To believe one’s parents are as God is an obligation and honors them. Parents should be treated with justice and respect. Particular sources on this topic are quotes from the Sura 6 al-An’an, Sura 17 al-Isra, and Sura 31 Luqman. When the prophet Mohamed was asked who of all people should be the most respected, he answered consecutively three times "the mother" and then "the father." Samir El Midani closed his presentation with a prayer of praise for Allah and a request for forgiveness and repentance.
Hubert Arnoldi spoke about the significance of parents according to the teaching of the Unification Church. The teachings are from Dr. Sun Myung Moon and are recorded in the Divine Principle and in many writings and speeches. Human beings are God’s children. God gave the experience of joy as the purpose of life. Jesus as the Messiah should have become true parents in his own lifetime and been able to bring not only spiritual but also physical salvation. Sun Myung Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han, are considered to have, for the first time in history, fulfilled the ideal of true parents. Their desire is to show the way for all people to become true parents and to establish a true family.
Ayşe Aktaş from the MIHR foundation (a particular Sufi organization) gave the following explanation about the role of parents from the viewpoint of Islam: 1. The cornerstone of Islam is the family. Many rules in Islam are specific for particular family members. The family is holy and should reflect God’s beauty. 2. One of God’s laws is marriage (religious and civil). 3. The man should take care of his family, protect, guide and hold it together, and treat the children fairly. The wife should take care of the children and respect and accept the man as head of the family. Parents should take strong action in the education of children, warn them from mistakes, and be an example of and teach them to surrender to God and his commandments. Children should respect their parents and help each other as siblings. Each should know his or her role and take responsibility. When we implement the roles, peace can reign in a family.
These presentations were received with great interest and were followed by a musical interlude. Dr. Christoph Fröhner played two pieces on the flute - a Spanish and a Japanese composition.
Hubert Arnoldi gave a PowerPoint presentation from the Universal Peace Federation International especially prepared for the Global Day of Parents. Comments by UPF about the role and significance of parents were followed by quotations from different religions to supplement the topic.
In closing, Dr Christoph and Amina Fröhner, with their daughter Katharina, were honored as an intercultural and international family with the presentation of a bouquet of flowers and a gift.
A lively discussion over coffee, tea, cakes and all kinds of baked goods rounded off this interesting event.