Panel 15:
Approaching Sacred Texts in Modern Times Panel

Friday, 30th November 2007
Sydney, Australia

By Tamkin Ansari
Imagine a courtyard, one taken right out of a snap shot of old Sydney Town, looking around you, you see the beautiful stone walls and you know there is history there. You walk about and the cobble stone pavement, its ups and downs making you feel like you are walking on large bits of the past.
And then you gaze up and you feel yourself being pulled out of the pages of history and back to reality, a few towering buildings, very corporate like make you realise you are in the heart of the city on a Friday in the year 2007 and you think, what a marvellous contrast!
The last day of November was so spent in St. Patrick's Church Crypt amidst the hustle and bustle of the city and the wondrous peacefulness and unexpected quiet of the church itself. 'Quran & the Gospels: Approaching Sacred Texts in Modern Times’, was the topic at hand and with around 150 or so people who came to hear the speakers, it was evident that the topic was one that resonated with many.

Sr Michelle Connolly was first to address the topic. She started by defining what the Gospel was, a narrative, a story about Jesus (as), a historical person and the historical events occurring around him. She said the principle aim of the Gospels is to take the memories of a community regarding Jesus’ traditions thus creating a portrait of him that is personal.
Mehmet Ozalp spoke about how we make relevant our texts, the Quran and how we connect to it. He stated that in three ways one could do so, one a general reader, a Muslim, or non-Muslim seeking to benefit from the Quran and finally, the content of the Quran itself, which helps us to understand it.

He talked of Gods light resonating in the universe and the mirrors, which reflect this light, the universe, the Quran, and the human heart. He acknowledged that we are all subjective beings and need to try and stay away from extremes. He gave two points; if you do not allow the Quran to transform you, you will transform it to which you are yourself, and again we are bias creatures based on our belief, life experience and events that occur around us one text could mean two different things. He then stated that Muslims have to be ‘coachable’ by the Quran. “The Qur’an’s teachings are from God therefore submit to it, become coachable, and let God be the Teacher.” He ended by saying that it is important we have a collective understanding of the Quran so we do not become narrow in our understanding.
Another highlight of the night was prayer where Muslims prayed Maghrib prayer and Christians focused on the word maranatha and both groups prayed together.
The evening ended with ‘different perspectives, but moving to the one point-God’.
Overall the atmosphere of the event, the feeling of spirituality and of sincerity, trying together to understand God and his words was overwhelming and delightful.
From the ‘Remembrance of One God’ Affinity Intercultural Foundation in collaboration with the Christian Meditation Group held this second panel, “Quran & the Gospels: Approaching Sacred Texts in Modern Times” on Friday, 30th November 2007.