The Gibraltar Magazine

Having the
Faith to Unite

Interfaith Group on diet and other
universal religious matters

Gibraltar is renowned for the variety of religions flourishing in harmony — recently, one man took this blessing one step further and paved a practical path to further mutual understanding, respecting differences and highlighting parallels between faiths.

Presbyterian minister Reverend Stewart Lamont admits the idea of registered charity Gibraltar Interfaith Group came about in an unexpected way, when some members of Bahá’í sought his permission to use St. Andrew’s as the venue for their World Religions’ Day celebration. He figured the church could become the ‘social club’ for regular inter-religious meetings and conferences to discuss the most fundamental topics of the human condition, found in every creed — life, death, afterlife (and corollaries). The initiative was warmly welcomed and the group grew from strength to strength, with Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs now attending the meetings whose purpose isn’t propaganda or arguing who possesses the true key to salvation, but providing information and awareness of each other’s cultures.

Visits to the various places of worship were organised. Everyone was invited into the local synagogues, Hindu temples, mosques and churches to study how religious architecture reflects beliefs and traditions: for example, a Presbyterian church has a lot in common with a synagogue or a mosque in the absence of images, while a Roman Catholic church features statues as much as any Hindu temple, while most edifices tend to respect, whenever possible, the west-to-east orientation, so devotees can face the sunrise when praying. Talks also brought to Christian attention the importance of the lunar calendar in Hinduism, Judaism and Islam disclosing how the cycle of holidays is deeply associated with moon phases and seasons — festivals usually fall on new or full moon days and many beseech the return of sunlight around the winter solstice (Hanukkah, Christmas), or celebrate rebirth around the vernal equinox (Easter, Passover and Bahá’í New Year).

For example, 21st March 2008 will be a religious focal point for Christians (Good Friday), Jews (Purim, the Festival of Lots), Hindus (Holi, the Festival of Colours) and Bahá’í (Naw-Rúz, New Year). The day before, Maundy Thursday, coincides this year with Muslim commemoration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed (Mawlid An Nabi). And what better way to keep updated on all religions’ holy days than purchasing the Gibraltar Interfaith Calendar the proceeds from which will be donated to the Lady Williams’ Centre? It features beautiful pictures of Gibraltar’s temples, mosques, synagogues and visually marks the important dates with symbols and captions on the significance of each and every one.

The calendar was presented last May during a high-profile interfaith ceremony with local dignitaries in attendance, and GIG committee members Deepa Aidasani, Levi J. Attias, Stewart Lamont and Shada Malik were very pleased with the feedback. A PowerPoint presentation was offered to illustrate the genesis of this laudable project. Rev. Lamont hopes that after his retirement in late spring, his successor, or another Christian leader on the Rock, will continue to sustain the Group, and guarantee the development of meetings, discussions and the friendships that have already solidly bloomed within the Group.

Of course the Reverend’s legacy won’t be a simple one to take up, since he’s been lending his church to different cultural programmes — from concerts to weekly lunchtime learning, when guests could discuss hot spiritual issues over a bowl of soup and a sandwich! After the sessions on judgement day and reincarnation already held last year, ‘food’ is going to be the theme of the next Interfaith Group event this Shrove Tuesday (5th February, 7pm).

Munching on some delicious Russian blinis (pancakes) baked by the Reverend’s wife, dietary prohibitions in Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism will be explained, so you won’t make a major faux pas like ordering ham and cheese in Jerusalem, pork chops in Marrakech or a juicy beef burger in New Delhi! Some meetings also prove quite emotional. In dire times of Middle East suicide bombers, the local Imam spoke up on how this kind of allegiance to Koran’s teachings is not at all endorsed by Islamic Scriptures or law, in fact they are actually contrary. “Perhaps we westerners suspected it all along, but it was good to hear it from the Imam himself, who had joined us especially for bearing his witness,” Rev. Lamont commented. Another time, during the Carol Service that St. Andrew’s organises every year on a Sunday evening in the run-up to Christmas, he invited Shada Malik to read a passage of the Koran describing Jesus’s birth, which was very similar to the Gospels’ Annunciation story.

The Reverend is an affable down-to-earth gentleman with an open-minded approach to creed, viewing it as something that must unite rather than divide mankind. That’s why he watered, nurtured and cared for the Interfaith Group seed to help its branches reach towards the heavens and fully blossom. For a minister who has met the last Pope, the Dalai Lama, rabbis and Orthodox patriarchs, spirituality is universal and must be based on a sense of humour and common sense as much as a sense of devotion and duty, like his GBC’s “Pause for Reflection” five-minute broadcast often teaches us with a witty smile to put the day ahead in perspective.

GIG meetings are open to all. For further info on forthcoming initiatives, please ring 200 77040 or e-mail scotskirk@gibraltar.gi. St. Andrew’s Church in Governor’s Parade is open on weekdays from 11am to 1pm. Sunday Service is at 10.30am. The Church also offers a selection of books on various religions for borrowing.