WHERE IS GOD IN RELIGION?

Judette Cowartd (JC): People fight wars and strap themselves with bombs in the name of religion. When your students ask for a definition of religion what do you say? I find it such a controversial, contested term.

Professor Anantanand Rambachan (PAR): The definition of religion depends on the discipline that one pursues. I offer a theological definition of religion and the one that I love the best is by the American theologian Paul Tillich. Tillich spoke of religion as matters of ultimate concern. In other words his definition of religion has to do with what concerns a person ultimately? Some questions that help that definition are: ‘What do you value the most?’ ‘What is at the centre of your world view?’ If you think about it, your life is going to be shaped by what is of ultimate concern to you and this gets diffused in other dimensions of your life so I think this is a very good working definition of religion.

(JC): I am surprised that from a theological standpoint that the definition does not encompass the word God, that there is not some component of deity or the divine in your explanation.

(PAR): Historically it has a lot do with the deity. At the same time, however, we have to acknowledge that when we look at the world of religions, there are vital living religious traditions that do not speak about God as a creator of the universe. Yet they have very deep and profound answers to the human condition. I am thinking in particular of a tradition like Buddhism. You will see in Buddhism an understanding of the human problem which is suffering caused by greed and overcome by being on the path to nirvana. Nowhere in the Buddhist understanding of the human problem and the solution do we find the word God but the Buddhist has something of ultimate concern, which is the attainment of nirvana. So we have to speak of Buddhism as a religion in that sense.

(JC): Is salvation then the whole premise of religion?

(JC): Religions might be structurally similar, but isn’t it their philosophical differences that account for so much of the conflict we see today in the world? I am talking here about the problem in Ireland, Sri Lanka and the conflicts in the Middle East, Israel and Palestine.

(JC): Does conflict then permit people to question the relevance of religion in their lives?

(JC): How can so much diversity among the word’s religions lead to opportunities for a more meaningful and energetic engagement?

(PAR): I think religious diversity is a great opportunity for learning, for growing in wisdom. We ought to develop a very positive attitude towards religious diversity as a great opportunity for learning. Not that we have to cease being committed to the traditions that we value and honour. I think our diversity today calls us to a new way of being, which is to learn to practice commitment with openness, to learn from the wisdom of other religions. I speak these words because in my own personal experience I have been tremendously enriched and I continue to be enriched by my deep relations with friends who are Buddhists, Muslims and Christians. I will not give up the wealth of those relationships because they mean so much to me.