INTRODUCING A NEW INTERFAITH MINISTRY

Living Room’s Open Door is a faith-based peer ministry offering group support for individuals who share struggles with mental health challenges. The groups recognize the connection between spirituality and mental well-being and the two are addressed together as part of our meetings. Members of such groups have found great comfort and encouragement from having such a place where they can, with others, explore what is most important to them yet hard to discuss elsewhere.

The Open Door is an interfaith ministry—open to all those who have lived experience. Groups will be formed by facilitators representing major world religions: Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism. These facilitators will draw group members who follow their faith. There could be Buddhist groups, Muslim groups, and so on. There might even be opportunities for individuals who are not attached to any particular religion to gather, as a group exploring various religious faiths.

The foundation of Living Room’s Open Door will be grounded on the unconditional love that has been shown by Jesus Christ for those who struggle, especially for those who suffer the world’s rejection. Jesus is a figure who holds importance for most major faiths, though differing in how he fits into their religion. For most, he’s a much-revered figure in history.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ guides people to live less sinful lives. Through his sacrifice of dying on the cross, they believe that Jesus atoned for the sins of human beings. This means that he paid the penalty for the sins committed by humans and made it possible for God to forgive them. He is an example to us by how he lived a selfless life.

Buddhists believe in many gods, Jesus being only one. Regardless of this, the Dalai Lama wrote a whole book on Jesus with the title, The Good Heart.  He wrote, “. . . [Jesus] taught certain views different from Buddhism, but he also taught the same religious values: be patient, tolerant, and compassionate. This is, you see, the real message in order to become a better human being.”

Hinduism developed without any connection to Jesus. There are, however, some similarities with an important Hindu deity, Krishna. He, as well, is seen as coming to earth to set his followers free. The most famous Hindu, Mahatma Gandhi, viewed Jesus as a great example and considered his Sermon on the Mount as one of the most beautiful texts of all time.

Islam considered Jesus to be a Prophet, an important messenger from God. Although Christians believe in God’s unconditional love, the Qur’an does not present God’s love as unconditional. However, what the New Testament refers to as “love” is the same as what the Qur’an calls “mercy.” They see God as all-merciful.

Judaism does not accept Jesus as a divine being, an intermediary between humans and God, a messiah, or holy. They believe that Jesus did not fulfill messianic prophecies, establishing the criteria for the coming of the Messiah.  Although religious coping may be different in Jews compared to Christians and Muslims, it is not uncommon for Jews to rely on God when attempting to cope with stress. Even secular Jews in Israel consult rabbis to assist them in coping with health problems and life stress.

The Open Door facilitator manual that will be provided is a guidebook for all facilitators, regardless of their background, giving them room to inject their own values and beliefs in accordance with their particular religion.

Despite the different views held about him, Jesus Christ is the best model that leaders of faith-based groups could have. It’s his spirit of acceptance, kindness, and love that they are called to carry into their meetings. It’s through such a spirit that healing for mental and emotional pain can take place.

marja