Anglicans schooled on Islam

Bolgatanga, May 28, GNA- Church leaders selected from the various parishes in the Anglican Diocese of Tamale on Thursday ended a three-day workshop on understanding the Islamic religion and the Muslim faith at Bolgatanga.

It was meant to sensitize the participants to appreciate the teaching of Islam as part of the church's bid to promote a peaceful relation among various religions within the diocese.

A resource person, Reverend Dr. John Azumah, who spoke on the topic " understanding Islam", said the Islamic religion details its faithful to be submissive to God and surrender to the teachings of Muhammad, the messenger of God and this stands for peace.

He said unfortunately, some of the media portrays the religion in a different way of Muslims using violence to achieve their objectives.

Rev. Dr. Azumah said most people including some Muslims are ignorant of the fundamentals of the Islam and it was therefore, necessary that Christians, especially, be educated to appreciate the basic principles of the religion.

He said Islam and Christianity were missionary religions and that both religions believed in, and teaches witnessing, adding that to be effective in doing so, it was necessary to root tolerance in the foundation of the two religions.

The Right Reverend Emmanuel Arongo, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale, emphasized the need for all to be tolerant of each other, adding that the diocese finds itself in the midst of various religions and urged the participants to educate the congregation on the need to tolerate other religions.

He called for peace and harmony among the various religions within the diocese and gave the assurance that the Anglican Church would do everything necessary to help achieve peace and tolerance in the country. The diocese of Tamale is in Northern Ghana, where Islam is popular with the people.