As Christians worldwide commemorate this year’s Easter, people of all religious faiths have been called upon to take advantage of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion by reflecting on the imperative of sacrifice and religious tolerance.
A group, Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners (GIMP), gave the admonition in its Easter message to Nigerians.
In the message obtained by Vital News on Saturday,GIMP said Nigerians should in the course of
serving God promote love and tolerance among the diverse people of this country and the world at large.
The Chairman of Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners (GIMP), Mr Abdulkarim Abdulmalik signed the goodwill message.
He said that Good Friday is a day of remembrance, and also an occasion that calls for peace, understanding and shared human values amidst our diversity.
He observed that the “beauty of our diversity calls for the universal recognition of interfaith harmony as the common denominator of the quest for world peace.”
While corroborating the position of the World Council of Churches (WCC) that Good Friday could be a time for Christians to reflect on their own faith and to show respect for the beliefs and practices of other religious communities, Abdulmalik noted that other faiths leaders should compliment the Council in spreading the message of glad tidings.
He observed that WCC’s call for peace and tolerance among the Christians, Jews and Muslims urging for a spirit of unity and respect in Jerusalem was timely and important.
The GIMP Chairman urged, faith leaders in Nigeria to replicate this call by admonishing adherents of their respective faiths to eschew religious hostility and bigotry.
According to him, GIMP was formed to promote interfaith peace and harmony through the mass media.
He then called on media professionals in Nigeria to join hands with the Guild in advancing this onerous ethical social responsibility.
Abdulmalik, also urged journalists and religious leaders to join hands with the government in fighting insurgency, banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria.
According to him, the attack on hapless victims is a pointer to the need for a strong interfaith collaboration with the government for a precision fight against criminality in our country.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
