TTC Course Helps Christians Understand Other Faiths

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 Posted: 4:36:44AM HKT

Trinity Theological College is offering a course next year to help Christians understand people of other faiths.

Part of the programme of the seminary's Centre for the Development of Christian Ministry, World Religious: Understanding People of Other Faiths will be an eight-week course beginning January.

The course will be taught by a former Pastor-in-Charge of Wesley Methodist Church.

When contacted, CDCM director The Rev Dr Daniel Koh said that the course is not a reaction to the present public perception of Christianity.

“There is no specific particular background other than I think it is a good course to offer to help our Christians have [an] understanding of other faiths because we live with people of other faiths and if we want to be good neighbours we need to be able to understand the basic tenets [of their faiths],” he told The Christian Post, adding that it is one of the CDCM’s many courses offered to help Christians grow in various ways.

“But it comes in I guess at the right time,” the experienced Methodist pastor expressed.

On how Christians can promote inter-religious harmony, he highlighted that an important component is promoting ‘understanding’.

“But to be able to do so is also an indication of the confidence that we have in our faith,” he was quick to add. “If a Christian is confident of his or her faith, there is no reason why a Christian cannot also engage in trying to find out more about others and also to share in a sense with others what our faith is all about as well. It is a healthy development.”

The CDCM was set up to organise courses to help Christians in their personal spiritual growth and also to prepare them for Christian ministry, complementing the work of churches.

Course attendance has been on the rise.

A recent class on the Book of Revelation and the end times attracted more than 130 registrations.

Courses lately offered include preaching the Psalms. The centre plans to hold courses on the Pastoral Letters, an introduction to the philosophy of religion and Christian music with an emphasis on indigenous music.

“[W]e want to introduce Christians to some of the Asian combinations, Christian hymns and so on,” said Dr Koh, 59.

Edmond Chua
edmond@christianpost.com