Angie Wuysang
Is not God, or however we call God, the Most Infallible? If that is the case, then why are human beings imprudent enough to limit their concept of understanding God through just one experience? As we appreciate religions as evolving constructs instead of fixed entities, a new expression of faith is important as it encourages people to learn instead of judging. So far, established religions have been so centered on a single reference that any factor outside of that reference is considered pagan. Let us look at a simple example from two major world religions, Christianity and Islam. Many of the iconic images and depictions of Christianity were shaped by European and Western cultures, and this included religious figures being portrayed in ways that reflected the European people of that time, which influenced the global perception of “Christian” appearance. We also find this in Islamic tradition. As the early centers of Islamic civilization were in the Middle East where Arab culture was dominant, many people still associate Islam with these early cultural markers. This led to local influences on Islamic and Christian teachings having to deal with the so-called legitimacy.