Muslim, Christian clerics debate which way to eternal life

In a bid to strengthen religious tolerance between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in conjunction with Centre for Multi-Religious Dialogue has conducted a Christian/Muslim dialogue in Lagos.

The inter-religious debate held at Decross Gospel Mission, Agege, Lagos was titled ‘Which Way to Eternal Life?’

The dialogue attracted Muslims and Christian clerics who in the spirit of tolerance marshalled their points in the most peaceful way during the debate.

Moderator of the debate, Pastor Nureni Alabi had earlier read the rules of engagement, urging participants to conduct themselves in the most civil way and tolerate opposing views maturely. “The debate shall be held in the most peaceful way and in the spirit of friendship,” Alabi read among other rules.

In his opening remark, an Islamic cleric and Chairman, Association of Muslim Cross-Checkers (Lagos State branch), Alhaji M. A. Bolaji Akewukewe, noted that there have been a lot of misconceptions in the religious setting. According to him “When discussing religious issues we must be very tolerant because at debates like this, both Christians and Muslims would hear new things they may want to react against.”

Akewukewe, gave reason for the debate. “We are not to force anybody to our religion. All we are doing at this debate is to promote knowledge. Deceivers are on the two sides, we need knowledge not to be deceived and that is the reason for debates like this.”

Welcoming participants to the event, Rev. (Dr.) Julius Odofin told the audience the importance of peace.

Odofin, whose father was the Bashorun Adinni in Mushin, Lagos said he was not disowned after confessing Christ. “My father didn’t throw me out because I was a Christian and four years before his death, he met Christ,” he said, urging participants to search for eternal life and be tolerant with opposing views.

Chief speaker for the Muslim group, Ustaz Abdul Ganiyu Salaudeen alias Senior Manga, however appealed to Christians not support those who label Muslims as evil people. According to him, those are the people who are bent on causing chaos in the society.  “I want to appeal to Christians not to listen to any name they may call us until you interact with us,” he said.

Reading from Jeremiah 10:7 the Islamic scholar stated that “If anybody thinks he knows the way by himself, such a person would remain a loser, we must continue to pray for the knowledge of the way. No matter if you are a Muslim or a Christian, if you don’t hearken to God there is no way for you because Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed (SAW) were sent from God and there is no way the words of Christ would contradict the word of Mohammed.”

Meanwhile, Salaudeen told participants that Muslims are true followers of Jesus who he claimed many lies have been ascribed to.

“Muslims are the true followers of Jesus Christ because we worship the same way he did while on earth,” Salaudeen argued, stating further that, “According to Mathew 5:23, Jesus was never a liar but many lies are ascribed to him today.” He urged Christians to pay attention and adhere to the words of Jesus as published in red letters of some versions.

The Islamic cleric however debunked the notion that Muslims are terrorists. “Allah did not send terrorists, those ones do not understand Islam, leave them alone.” He argued further that Christ came as a Muslim, and died as a Muslim therefore observing the commandments of God is the true way to eternal life, no other way.”

He however called for peace among adherents of the two religions. “There is nothing we can do about the fact that Islam and Christianity would continue to exist till the end of the world except we are deceiving ourselves,” he said.

In his own opening remark, lead speaker for the Christian group, Evangelist Isang Udo-Akagha enjoined Christians to listen to the Muslims and understand their point of view in the name of brotherliness.

Explaining reason for the program, Udo-Akagha who heads Love A Muslim Ministry said, “This program has been going on for a long time. I need to tell our Christian brothers to listen to our Muslim brothers because there have been a lot of misconceptions in the religious setting which is not too good for peaceful coexistence, this is the reason for this forum where we can discuss our differences.”

Lamenting low turnout of Christians anytime the debate is staged, Udo-Akagha said “Christians always stay away from the debate. This is the first time we are holding this program in a church. We had had series in Mosques and there are always large turnout of Muslims and scanty Christian population.

“Many Christians are afraid of dialogues like this and they won’t attend. Jesus Christ commanded us to preach the gospel to every creature, therefore it is the duty of the Christians to take the gospel to the Muslims, this program provides that platform and we show that we love them,” he said.

Udo-Akhaga, a well-traveled evangelist however told the audience that the topic of the day’s debate is one that has not enjoyed much attention in recent times. The theme is a discourse that we don’t give too much attention to,” he said, reading from John 10:28, he submitted that, “Jesus is the way to eternal life. Jesus in the above scripture is making a very powerful claim that he gives eternal life and we know he is not a liar and our Muslim brothers have confessed they are followers of Jesus.”

Chairman, PFN, Agege Chapter, Bishop (Dr.) Praise Oliver at the event commended the Christians and Muslim delegates for the peaceful coexistence. “I am very happy this program is going to be an introduction of the mega one,” he said, also correcting some foreign media who have believed that Christians and Muslims in Nigeria are at logger head. “Foreign media has believed that in Nigeria Muslims and Christians are not united, we have proved them wrong because we are not at loggerheads and that is why we can coexist even at a debate like this,” the cleric said.

In his final submission, Odofin, a member of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) stated that, “When you have facts you would be able to decide the truth, we need to give everybody who wants to go to hell to have a choice.”