World Interfaith Harmony Week observances took place in Munich.
Munich
Representatives of seven religions discussed “Where is Heaven?” at an interfaith meeting on Feb. 7, 2015, at the office of the Munich branch of UPF-Germany.
Held to commemorate the United Nations’ World Interfaith Harmony Week, the discussion entitled “Where Is Heaven? Is There a (My) Kingdom of Heaven?” brought together 25 representatives and believers from seven religious communities.
Each of the following speakers gave a talk and offered a prayer from his or her tradition:
Gottfried Hutter, a Roman Catholic theologian, spoke about the Jewish/Christian definition of God’s Kingdom using a Kabbalah diagram with Hebrew characters. Values such as wisdom, goodness and beauty play a vital role. According to Matthew 6:33, we first should seek the Kingdom of God and everything else will be given afterward. Christ should resurrect within every believer and we should all become a (small) Messiah. Finally he prayed with all participants the Lord’s Prayer.
Yusuf Yüzay, a theologian and imam of Islam, initiated his presentation with a sung recitation of a chapter of the Quran dealing with the question “Where is heaven?” He then explained that although the Quran doesn’t explain exactly where heaven can be found, it does explain precisely how Muslims can prepare themselves for heaven, especially through the study of the Quran and the Hadize, the extra words of the Prophet Mohammad. A Muslim has to endeavor to reach heaven and find the Almighty through purifying his or her heart.
Michael Rotter, a peace educator and author, expressed that the best church or mosque for him would be Mother Nature, where one can deeply experience God and heaven. Then he presented the “Peace Constitution” for Germany which is based on the constitutions of Japan and Costa Rica. He said that we first should find peace within ourselves and that we can overcome war through a constant readiness for peace. Finally he prayed with all of us a Celtic prayer in gratitude to water and its creator and mentioned that we should be peacemakers.
Marlene Straub, Sufi Order International, first introduced the Sufi Order and its founder, Hazrat Inayat Khan, and then spoke about the necessary unity of all religions that the founder brought to the West, together with mystical music, about one hundred years ago. She said that international marriage also can be a means of bringing peace to the peoples of East and West. She regularly organizes a Universal Worship Service honoring all the religions of the world. Finally she said a prayer of her tradition and shared the Golden Sufi Heart: Love – the Lover – and the Beloved One are one.
Helga Huber, Christian Science Church, briefly introduced Christian Science, founded by Mary Baker Eddy in the United States. The central thought is the knowledge of the divine within oneself and the power of healing. The creation is divine and good; therefore we all should recognize the divine and the good within ourselves. The one who makes God present within oneself becomes a guarantor for peace. The prayer that she presented focused on esteem, appreciation and trust and said that divine wisdom and divine love should always be alive within everyone.
Uta Eilzer, Church of Scientology, offered a prayer for total freedom from war, poverty and suffering and for the preservation of human rights, so that all people can worship freely and hold their religious services; and that the Creator may enable all people to attain understanding of their spiritual nature. We should use our potential that is given by God and that is in the likeness of God. For her the way of salvation means to find peace within oneself and then develop attention and thoughtfulness for others.
Gisela Münster, a Catholic theologian, was very concerned about the present situation in the world, especially in Ukraine and Syria, and asked all of us to pray for peace urgently. That is what we can do. Peace starts there where we live. Thoughts full of goodness and reconciliation are so important. Peace is not only a still air between two wars, but a movement from people to people. She asked us: “Does peace start from you?” Peace starts small – with conversation. She presented in her prayer a variation of the Beatitudes: Blessed are the ones who love the interests of the others like their own, because they will create peace and unity. Blessed are the ones who are always prepared to take the first step, because they will discover that the others are more open than they first showed. …
In between the speakers there were musical presentations, as well as songs that the participants sang together: Oivind Haugen on guitar: "Halleluja"; Gianni Scarcella on piano: "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace"; and Annette Bentele sang the prayer of Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "Von guten Mächten wunderbar geborgen." These songs and the flames of the candles that were lit by each participant after he/she prayed surely carried the participants’ desire for peace to heaven and the tears that were shed brought them back to Mother Earth.
Finally Siegfried Jensen, pastor of the Unification Movement in Munich, said that the Kingdom of Heaven is not a specific place but a common project of all of us. Mr. Jensen spoke about the way to God’s Kingdom which was shown by UPF Founder Dr. Sun Myung Moon. He mentioned the Three Blessings: to perfect oneself individually in true love, to establish a loving family and to create unity with creation. He emphasized the importance of living for the sake of others and that the family is the foundation for a culture of peace. Finally he presented an invitation to the Interfaith Peace Blessing as a ceremony of peace and reconciliation.
Report written by Magda Haugen (Women’s Federation for World Peace-Germany) and Robert Bentele