Abstract

In every religion, the scriptures are intended to guide human societies according to universal laws. These scriptures, which are transcribed by prophets, are usually considered to be inspired by the Source of All Truth. However, when these prophets depart, their followers sometimes begin to misinterpret scriptures to their ethnic or group advantage. Whereas proper interpretation of scriptures may create harmony, unity and peace, improper interpretations create divisions and conflicts between and among people of different faiths. 

Today, serious followers of any world faith are haunted by feelings of uncertainty about the biased interpretations presented by many clergy. Although every Holy Scripture fundamentally promulgates peace, love and living in harmony, sometimes for the sake of dominance, supremacy and exploitation, religious leaders use scriptures to cultivate wars, commit murders, and cause social destruction in the name of God. In this session, representatives of a variety of faith traditions will come together to discuss these important issues. These scholars from various faiths will peruse their own scriptures and offer their interpretations to illustrate both proper and improper use of the scriptures and warn the coming generation about the silent killers in society today. 

The panel on “The Holy Scriptures and Questions of Intended Use” is designed to bring about the intent and interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. 

Mike Ghouse is commissioned to be one of the six presenters, presenting the intended use of the verses from Holy Qur’aan.  He believes, “to be religious is to be a peace maker, one who mitigates conflicts and nurtures goodwill. That is all God wants, for his creation to live in harmony.  

He will share information about the deliberate mis-translation of Qur’aan in the 11^th century by the European Kings to Paint Islam as a dangerous cult to solidify the support of their subjects to stop the marching kings from the Arabian Peninsula, and from taking over their Kingdoms, and how the myth of distrust was created and is perpetuated till this day.  The fall of Ottoman Empire gave birth to yet another mistranslation of the Qur’aan by a Muslim to do the opposite of what the European Christians Kings did.

He will conclude the presentation by presenting a few mistranslated scriptures and the adversity it created. He will offer suggestions to read the Holy Scriptures in the light of God’s will for this creation to live in harmony, and all the pathways were influenced by the idea of co-existence. 

Mike Ghouse is a thinker, writer speaker and an activist of pluralism, interfaith, co-existence, Islam and India. He is a frequent guest at the TV, radio and print media offering pluralistic solutions to issues of the day. He co-chairs the Center for Interfaith Inquiry of the Memnosyne Foundation and President of the Foundation for Pluralism. He is from Dallas, Texas. 

Additional Notes to be incorporated later: 

When life and matter came into being; matter was programmed to maintain its own balance, whereas the life was give the free will to seek its own balance.  

Matter like Jupiter was put on a trajectory to circumambulate around the sun on a precise calculation, the Moon was to orbit around the planet earth and each star in the galaxy was to have its own space and place. They all have been functioning on a program designed to have harmony amongst the extraordinary diversity of nature.  

Whereas, life was not put on a trajectory, instead the element of life was given the free will to find its own equilibrium. The creator loves his creation, just as an artist loves her art, a painter his painting, a sculptor her creation, the chef his food and the parents their children. The love of the parents paves the way for the offspring to live a peaceful and harmonious life. 

The creator likewise, makes pathways for different tribes, communities and nations, so that they know each other and figure out to live and co-exist in harmony. The pathway is the wisdom manifesting in religions and various traditions. The Parliament of World religions will be witnessing an unprecedented presence of 250 such pathways. Each system is valid and is created to serve the needs of the people. 

God wills for his creation to live in harmony. He wills for the humanity to strive for a balance; social, spiritual, biological, physical, moral and environmental. When this elusive equilibrium is achieved, where no one is afraid of the other, where every one feels safe, oppression becomes a story, exploitation fades away, and goodwill becomes the norm of the society, then Religion has achieved its goal; indeed, God is all about peace and equilibrium.

“In every religion, there are scriptures that are intended to guide human societies according to universal laws. These scriptures, which are transcribed by prophets, are usually considered to be inspired by the Source of All Truth. However, when these prophets depart, their followers sometimes begin to misinterpret scriptures to their ethnic or group advantage. Whereas proper interpretation of scriptures may create harmony, unity and peace, improper interpretations create divisions and conflicts between and among people of different faiths.”  

“Today, serious followers of any world faith are haunted by feelings of uncertainty about the biased interpretations presented by many clergy. Although every Holy Scripture fundamentally promulgates peace, love and living in harmony, sometimes for the sake of dominance, supremacy and exploitation, religious leaders use scriptures to cultivate wars, commit murders, and cause social destruction in the name of God. In this session, representatives of a variety of faith traditions will come together to discuss these important issues. These scholars from various faiths will peruse their own scriptures and offer their interpretations to illustrate both proper and improper use of the scriptures and warn the coming generation about the silent killers in society today.” 

The panel on “The Holy Scriptures and Questions of Intended Use “ is designed to bring about the intent and interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.

Mike Ghouse is one of the six presenters, presenting the intended use of the verses from Holy Qur’aan.  He believes, “to be religious is to be a peace maker, one who mitigates conflicts and nurtures goodwill. That is all God wants, for his creation to live in harmony.