March 28, 2024

I continue to learn from my travels. I find myself in geographical locations/environments whereas a Christian I am in a minority, which I somehow tend to like. It allows me to challenge and reaffirm my own faith. Many of the staff onboard the ship are from Indonesia and Bali in particular. Many are celebrating Ramadan which began March 11 and ends April 9. This has fostered some great conversations and reflections on our different faith celebrations from Hindus, Buddhists and Muslim staff onboard. Ramadan, Easter and Purim are all celebrated this month.

With plenty of time on my sea days, I compiled a list of the different faiths I have encountered in my travels thus far:

Christianity:

• Beliefs: Christians believe in one God and Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came to Earth to save humanity.
• Practices: Worship is centered around churches, prayer, and reading the Bible.
• Key Figures: Jesus Christ is central to Christian beliefs.
• Holy Book: The Bible
• Countries: US, UK, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Philippines, Nigeria

Hinduism:

• Beliefs: Hindus believe in multiple deities but worship a main single deity known as Brahman. They also believe in reincarnation and karma.
• Practices: Worship includes rituals, prayers, and meditation.
• Key Figures; No specific founder; various gods and goddesses are revered.
• Holy Texts; Sacred texts like the Vedas.
• Percentage: Third largest after Christianity (31.5%), Islam (23.3%); about 15% of world population
• Countries: Nepal, India, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Bhutan, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Quatar, Sri Lanka, (Bali)

Buddhism:

• Beliefs: Buddhists follow the teachings of Buddha and focus on achieving enlightenment through meditation and self-awareness.
• Practices: Meditation is central to Buddhist practice along with ethical living.
• Key Figures: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) is the founder.
• Holy Texts: Tripitaka (Pali Canon).
• Percentage of world population: 8%
• Countries: Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Mongolia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea

Islam:

• Beliefs Muslims believe in one God (Allah) and follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad as revealed in the Quran.
• Practices: Observance of the Five Pillars of Islam: Shahadah (faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting), Hajj (pilgrimage).
• Key Figures: Prophet Muhammad is the final prophet in Islam.
• Holy Texts: The Quran
• Geographic Concentration: 62% of Muslims are in Asia-Pacific and Indonesia has 13% of the world’s Muslims
• Countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Tunisia, Western Sahara, Yemen, Maldives

I am respectful of all faiths but see a difference between Christianity and other faiths I have studied. Most faiths are centered on doing “good works” as a means of redemption. The Bible says: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our good works are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) The analogy here is as a leaf withers and fades, our good works fall short. It is our sins that separate us from God’s favor, much like the wind that sweeps away the leaf our sins sweep us away from safety.

I realize that there are many individuals who were raised with Judeo/Christian values who have fallen away from their faith because they were wrongly taught that they needed to do something to earn God’s approval. The reality is that God loves you just the way you are. For someone who struggled with wanting to earn others approval that was a welcome reprieve that I didn’t have to earn God’s approval.

A young slave girl was being auctioned in the town square. A Master bought her but was merciful and said to her: “I have bought you and paid a price for your freedom and now I will set you free”. The young girl replied, “I was a slave and you set me free and now in gratitude I will choose to serve you”.

This story is the essence of my Christian faith.

Like all of us, I was a slave to behaviors that could not change on my own. The apostle Paul said, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:19) Like the slave girl, once I realized that a price had been paid for my freedom through Christ’s death and resurrection, I was no longer plagued by guilt but could choose to live a life of gratitude.

The great golf commentator, David Feherty, once said: “I’m not courageous enough to be an atheist.”.

So, it is with me.

I know the source of my strength, my peace and my contentment.

And it surely isn’t me alone.

Thanks for traveling with us.