The Rev. Pat Rush, pastor, Visitation Catholic Church, Kansas City: My most precious religious possession is my membership in the church of Jesus Christ. The church of Jesus Christ is founded on the faith of the Apostles, those premier witnesses to the ministry and teaching of Jesus and to the resurrection of the Lord.
KYOTO, Japan — The videos fill up space on YouTube, the photos running for page after page on Google Images. Japan as a place of death and destruction, massive brown-blue waves, shaking high-rises, collapsed cities.
Arvind Khetia, engineer and a Hindu: This profound question is answered in the Vedantic scriptures of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. They define the nature of God as an all-pervading transcendental reality (Brahman). This ultimate reality, at different times and locations, manifests as God in human form to re-establish righteousness (Dharma). Consequently, diverse religions arise with their own doctrines and dogmas.
Lama Chuck Stanford, Rime Buddhist Center & Monastery, Kansas City, Mo.: Most of our government leaders practice some form of religion. Therefore, if they have the leadership qualities and skills to serve our nation, it shouldn’t matter what religion they practice, as long as they don’t try to impose their religious beliefs upon the decisions they make for their constituents. Nearly all religions encourage moral virtue, compassion and loving-kindness. What better way to lead politically than with these enlightened qualities?
Rushdy El-Ghussein, former president of the Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City: The greatness of the Divine does not manifest itself only in prayer but in all aspects of our lives. We can see the magnificence and beauty of life and the world around us. The scientist might experience the greatness of God in God’s creation and the wonders of science that God has created. A physician may experience God’s greatness in human anatomy or in the function of the heart or the function of eyes and ears. A parent can see it in the growth of his or her child.
Rabbi Mark Levin of Congregation Beth Torah, Overland Park, Kan.: Faith is the love and service of God. Deuteronomy 6:5 commands us to love God with all our “heart, soul and might.” Each person balances them differently, and no two people are the same. Each soul is given its particular task in the world.
The Rev. R.L. Baynham, pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church, Kansas City, Kan.: Since the beginning of time, we have been exposed to the behavior of man and his relationship with the world. Many times that behavior has been evil and mean. Today, we watch and/or listen to the events that make us cringe and feel the loss and hopelessness. There are at least three things we can do: pray, trust and restore.
Arvind Khetia, engineer and a Hindu: The state of human society is determined by the extent of its adherence to ethical living, by the wisdom and character of people in power and by the quality of social justice.
We are called to gather
In “Voices of Faith,” religious leaders answer readers’ questions.
In "Voices of Faith," religious leaders answer readers' questions.
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