Comments on An Interfaith Event: Why Must I Suffer?

Over the past few weeks I have received many emails and notes about An Interfaith Event: Why Must I Suffer?  I am thankful for the convicted civility demonstrated by the speakers and for an audience who was committed to being humble listeners and willing to learn about others. Below are some of the notes which I have received.

Protestant:
Powerful. Highlighted commonality. We all grow when facing life's greatest obstacles.

Muslim:

The selection of the topic and the presenters was excellent and the experience of each of them was a lesson for all of us to be grateful to Almighty God for the little and the great Blessings that He has bestowed upon all of us and for the trials and tribulations of this life. Thank God for the old friends and the new ones. May God provide all of us with the knowledge and understanding to appreciate each other.

Christ-follower:
This was a precious two hours we had together to discuss the pain of suffering, common to all people, that unites us with each other and with God.

Judaism:
It was a wonderful experience to come together and share our theology and humanity.

Muslim:
We all suffer in the same way, we all have the same feeling, pain, and look to the creator to help us through.

Protestant:
Together for a brief time. Going our separate ways. Knowing we share, but not always remembering that.

Muslim:

This was an excellent event.We were totally spellbound.This kind of event makes us appreciate every single moment, every little thing that we are blessed with.The topic and selection of speakers was excellent.We really enjoyed it. No matter what race, religion, color, ethnicity we belong to, we are all human beings and we all feel pain, suffering, happiness in the same way and we all breath the same air. God bless you and all humanity.

Catholic:
Suffering often triggers the questions, "why?". Why me? Why my friend? Why my child? Why anyone? Getting lost in that question can block us from an awareness of how close God is to us during suffering. "Why God?" is rarely answered and distances us from God. "Be with me" is answered and brings us closer to God. It's always answered. Stop asking "why?".

Evangelical:

Thank you for hosting the series of Interfaith Dialogue events at Canterbury and especially this most recent event focusing on suffering.  I was very impressed by how cordial and respectful the group conducted themselves.  I found their comments and perspectives interesting.

Muslim:
A powerful discussion by representatives of various faiths. An eye-opener in regards to commonalities among faiths. Liked it very much.

Christian:
I attended the Interfaith Event on suffering. It was the first Interfaith Event I have attended. I just wanted to say how impressed I am for someone like you to take time out of your busy schedule to put together an event of that nature. I'm a Christian but found a little something from all the guest speakers to be interesting. My favorite two verses in the Bible come from 1 Peter 4:7-8, " The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins." To me this lets us know as Christians how we should live.