CCSL and PROCMURA Preach Religious Tolerance in Kambia

Council of Churches in Sierra Leone in collaboration with Programme for Christian and Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA) completed a two-day capacity building workshop on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Kambia Friday, March 10 on the theme Religion: My Rights Not My Fight.
The workshop, which brought together forty-one participants from respective communities in the district was meant to shed light on tolerance and peaceful co-existence among Muslims and Christians.

The chairperson for PROCMURA in Sierra Leone, Rev Christiana Sutton-Koroma gave the Christian perspective on Freedom of Religion or Belief. She said “PROCMURA’s theological position of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) comes as part of the uncontested essence of God understood by the three monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam; that God is all Knowing (omniscient) Hebrews 4:13”. She said God knows everything and nothing is hidden from him citing Isaiah 46:9-10 and because God is all knowing, religious diversity did not come without God’s knowledge but it does not “suggest that God brought about religious diversity.” She made it clear that it is theologically sound to say that religious diversity came about with God’s knowledge; at best with God’s permission and at worst against God’s will. Sutton-Koroma further said that everyone has the freedom and right to belong to the religion of their choice and no one should serve as a barrier to another person’s faith. She said God is a democratic God, that is the reason He gave everyone the freewill to choose. She noted that Sierra Leone enjoys the commendation as a country that has religious tolerance and often cited as a great example. She said the bible encourages Christians to live at peace with all men and to love their neighbour as themselves. Hence, she said, there was no need to disturb people practicing other forms of faith different from theirs.

Sheik Ibrahim Sesay, a member of FoRB, said that there should be no compulsion in religion as justified by the Holy Quran citing surah 18 verse 256 “there is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in taghut and believes in Allah, he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-hearer, All-knower”. He said Allah who knows and is a witness to all things knows about religious difference. Therefore, people must not be fighting each other over religion. He said Islam is a peaceful religion and so its followers should practice the same because no one knows who to guide or has the power to guide anyone except Allah, citing Surah 28 verses 56. He gave several instances in the Holy Quran that preach peace and the peaceful relationship that exist between Christians and Muslims, making reference to Surah 6 verse 82.
One of the participants, Isata Moses, said based on the exposition from the two Holy books, there was no need to disrespect another person’s religion; fight, disturb, or force people to join one’s religion. “The knowledge I have acquired from this workshop has given me a change of mindset of how I perceive another persons’ religion.” She vowed to be an ambassador to sensitize others in her community.
Bishop Arnold Temple, CCSL’s Ecumenical Desk Officer, explained that Muslims and Christians have the same spiritual descendant (Abraham). He said, “We are different in doctrines and interpretation of who God is, but that does not change who God is because He is infinite; He goes beyond human experience”.
Kambia Chief Imam, Sheik Nabil Dumbuya, who has a twelve-year teaching experience in religious studies said the peace building programme was a step in the right direction given the background that Kambia previously suffered from religious conflicts. He promised including the Freedom of Religion or Belief messages in his future lectures on platforms at his disposal.
The District Coordinator for Peace, Dr. Nabieu Yayah Yillah said, the message of Freedom of Religion or Belief is timely because Kambia has learned from the mistake of fighting over religion in the past. Dr. Yillah said that “Region goes with responsibility; everyone has the responsibility to respect another’s religion”.
Ahmed Tejan Sandy from the Office of National Security (ONS), said ONS is responsible for identifying possible threats and interventions. He said ONS works with the Inter Religious Council and the CCSL because they play a pivotal role in preaching peace in society.” He assured all that Kambia is a peaceful community and they would maintain peace to ensure development.
The occasion was climaxed by a football competition. At the final game between All Stars and Great Scarcies, CCSL President, the Rev. Henry Samuels said football is a channel that connects people and promotes peace. He said he was pleased with the attitude with which the Kambia people received the message of Freedom of Religion or Belief. He encouraged the people of Kambia to remain peaceful and respect each other’s religion.

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