Leaders Guide FINAL

LEAD E R’ S GU ID E

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Acknowledgements The first edition of Discovering Jesus was originally launched in 2014 and so it is with honour, appreciation and a grateful heart that we thank all those who contributed to the original resource. Your prayers, encouragement and commitment helped lay a foundation that continues to bear fruit.

Thank you to the original authors, Clive Thorne and Robin Thomson, and to all those who contributed to previous editions.

More than a decade later, we have prayerfully sought to discern what is needed for this season. Our desire is that this course will be truly accessible – whether to those who are encountering Jesus for the very first time or to those who have already begun to know Him. We thank Interserve and Fusion for partnering with us on this so generously.

Above all, we give glory and thanks to Jesus, whose wisdom, guidance and unfailing love continue to inspire and sustain this work. It is our prayer that Discovering Jesus will be a blessing to many, opening the way for countless lives to experience His transforming love and hope for the future.

First edition published by The Good Book Company 2014 © South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance 2025 Evangelical Alliance, 176 Copenhagen Street, London, N1 0ST Unless indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. Used by permission.

Images in this booklet are stock photos; the people pictured are used for illustrative purposes only.

Design by danielwatsondesign.co.uk eauk.org/discoveringjesus

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4 Introduction and background information 6 Course objectives 7 Who is this course for?

8 What you will need to run this course 9 What each session looks like 11 Tips for leaders 15 How to continue for those who are interested 17 The sessions: •

How to set up the space for groups

•

Individuals and safeguarding

•

Cultural awareness – the dos and don’ts

•

Material reading/watching videos before the session

•

Preparing a meal

•

During the session

•

In between sessions

•

After the course finishes

20 A brief introduction to the main Asian religions, beliefs and geography

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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION 4

The Discovering Jesus course was first launched in 2014. It was originally called Discovering Jesus through Asian eyes; however it is now called Discovering Jesus – a spiritual journey. There are elements that remain the same and familiar. However, the resource has been revised so it will look, read and sound different, but without losing the key focus, theology and understanding. It has been produced to give you a foundational, reliable resource that you can use with confidence with friends from a South Asian, Southeast Asian or Asian background. Sometimes people can get confused about the regional parameters for each of these areas, so we will explain this a little later.

The course will help guide conversations, inspire reflection and stir up a deeper way of thinking and seeking answers to the big questions.

Sometimes conversations will happen naturally and at other times it may require intentional prayer and direction from the leader. You do not have to be an expert on all Asian heritages to use this material. This manual has been designed to equip ordinary Christians with ideas on how to engage in healthy and respectful discussion.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

The four aims of the course are to:

01 Give space for people to explore

fundamental questions about who Jesus is.

02 Help people journey with Jesus in a safe and non-pressurised environment.

03 Clarify and deal with misconceptions about Christian belief.

04 Introduce people to the gospel

message and inspire further discussion.

This course can be with friends, neighbours, colleagues, family members or other contacts in a variety of ways, whether online, in a small group, in a bigger group or in church.

You can go through the Discovering Jesus course over a cup of coffee, or you could invite people to join you on a full structured course. You can use it with individuals or with groups, according to your situation.

“We are in a time of an awakening to who Jesus is.

People are encountering Jesus in all kinds of ways and are recognising that the world cannot offer the freedom and love Jesus does. I’d encourage anyone using this resource to be comfortable with the assurance that the Lord will lead and guide your conversations. We have done the ‘hard work’ so hopefully you don’t have to. We want to allow people to come as they are – real and raw, whilst we remain open and ready for what the Holy Spirit wants to do during the time you are together. So don’t overthink it; it doesn’t need to be perfect – just honest and humble. We are there to serve.”

– Rani Joshi, South Asian Forum co-ordinator.

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WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR? This course is for anyone exploring the Christian faith from an Asian background (South Asian, Southeast Asian and East Asian) who may come from Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism including those who may consider themselves atheists, agnostic and/or practising New Age beliefs. It’s for those who want to discover who Jesus really is as they explore their own spiritual journey. The course is designed to help people, from other faiths and none, understand key biblical truths about Jesus, His resurrection, life, death, salvation, freedom and forgiveness. It’s best used in groups but can also be used with individuals in a one-to-one setting.

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WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO RUN THIS COURSE

• A heart and passion for Asian communities • Volunteers • People praying for you. Do ask people to join you in keeping each session in their prayers.

• A laptop or device to watch the session videos. It’s best to watch them on a larger screen when in large groups. We can provide printed scripts of the videos on a case-by-case basis for those who may find technology challenging, but this will be an exception.

• The printed leader’s guide (this book) and participant guides which will be for the individual participants.

• A comfortable environment such as your church, a quiet café area, living room, or anywhere you can watch the videos without distraction. We suggest one-to-one sessions are run by the someone of the same sex to make both parties as comfortable as possible.

• If you plan on hosting a meal, think about things like allergies and dietary requirements, as well as practical elements like utensils, plates, cutlery. Not all cultures like to use cutlery so bear this in mind.

• You will need good Wi-Fi connection if you plan on running the course online.

RECOMMENDED SIZE FOR GROUP SESSIONS The content is flexible and can be used one-to-one, but if in a group we recommend a group of up to 15 people and an additional one or two volunteers to help you lead discussion groups and with the refreshments.

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WHAT EACH SESSION LOOKS LIKE

Meal/refreshments: If you plan on hosting the session with a meal or light refreshments, you will need some volunteers to help prep, serve and clear away. If you’re only running this with an individual, it can be more relaxed.

Welcome and prayer: This is up to you as the leader as each environment will be different. For the first session it’s a good idea to understand who is in your group and why they wanted to come to a Discovering Jesus course or if with an individual find out what they know, what they are searching for and set a regular schedule to meet over the next eight weeks.

Learning objective: We have set the learning objective for each session, so you don’t have to. This will help set the tone for each week and outlines what participants will be learning.

Leader question: This is to help get discussions moving and it encourages conversations about where participants might be on their journey and what their views, beliefs and perceptions are.

Video teaching: Watch the video, which will be about 10 minutes long.

The videos are conversational to allow a more relaxed approach.

Group discussion: Go through the discussion questions. They are set out so that the groups/individuals can be interactive.

We recommend for groups with more than 10 people to split into smaller groups to allow time to be able to have deeper discussions. Gather everyone back together afterwards for an overview of what each group discussed. If not applicable, move to personal reflection.

Personal reflection: Encourage individuals to journal their thoughts or questions from that session.

Ending the session: Point people to a weekly challenge, close with a short prayer.

Weekly challenge: Participants are set an activity to complete during the week before the next session.

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RECOMMENDED TIMINGS FOR GROUP SESSIONS: 90-minute sessions • Welcome guests, icebreaker, refreshments – 20 mins (If you plan to hold a meal, we’d recommend allowing 45 mins in total for this part before the main session.)

Main session timings • • • • •

2 mins: Let people settle and take their seats 10 mins: Welcome with session outline and open in prayer 10 mins: Leader question and open discussion 10 mins: Watch session video 25 mins: Group discussion (break into smaller groups if necessary) • 5 mins: Personal reflection • 5 mins: Weekly challenge and close in prayer

Final session away day – it is up to you if you do this away somewhere as a group or remain in your usual space. This is intended to be a day of prayer and an encounter with the Holy Spirit. This can be as formal or informal as you like.

As a guide 10am–4pm – we will let you decide.

• • • • •

Start with some refreshments Worship Have two morning sessions focused on session 8 Lunch Afternoon session we recommend focusing more on prayer, encounter and space for individuals to reflect and ask any questions • Close with an invitation to follow Jesus or continue their journey

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TIPS FOR LEADERS

Many Christians can be reluctant to talk about Jesus to people of other faiths or none, whether their neighbours, friends or work colleagues, because they are unsure of what questions they might have about Jesus or about the Christian faith or how they would respond. Many can be religious or spiritual and interested or happy to discuss different beliefs about God. It is also true that many may be agnostic or even atheists. Some may have knowledge or an understanding of Jesus through a different lens, although they may not share the same version of Jesus as Christians do. Sharing our testimonies is a great way of showing the power of Jesus at work through His Spirit.

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How to use the booklet to relate to Asian friends Some Asian people (like most people throughout the history of the world) hold to their religious beliefs because that is what they have been brought up to do. It is also true that many have nominal religious beliefs and will follow what is comfortable and familiar though are not really ‘practising’. Usually, they have not understood why they hold these beliefs; they simply follow the beliefs and customs of their community or family. There will, however, always be exceptions to this, especially among those who have grown up in the West, as well as students and professionals.

Hindus and Sikhs believe that all religions are valid ways of reaching God, so they may be interested to find out more about Christianity for this reason. Many people from East Asia (eg China or Japan) may similarly be interested. Muslims believe Christianity is the religion that preceded Islam in God’s revelation to the world, and they are often keen to talk about similarities between the two faiths. Some Muslims will be eager to try to convert a Christian to Islam.

How people might come to this point of Discovering Jesus Sometimes it’s people within our friendship circles, workplace and sometimes complete strangers who want to do the course. The most important thing to remember is we are not here to convert anyone. It is awful for people to think we are trying to ‘earn’ something by encouraging them to know Jesus. Remind them we get nothing out of this other than their salvation. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to transform and of course the freedom of choice to become a believer in Jesus; our job is to be ambassadors for our heavenly Father and help people on their journey of discovery, whatever choice they make.

We should build genuine friendships with people, not in the hope they will convert but rather they would know the love of Christ. We are bridge builders for those who do not know Jesus to making Him known People may have gone through abuse, trauma, bereavement, addiction etc, so please do be sensitive to the taboos of shame, pride and rejection people may be carrying.

Also remember the wonderful things of other cultures too and how they biblically relate, such as fasting, prayer, serving, food, hospitality, honouring your mother and father, generosity etc.

The South Asian and Asian cultures are closer to where Jesus’s life was set than the West. For example, the gospel went to India 40–50 years before it arrived in Britian. It’s good not to make

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assumptions. For some, Discovering Jesus may feel like a natural step, but for others a big commitment. Go at the pace of the participant and the Lord’s prompting.

We need to take time to build relationships and bridges through which we can begin to communicate beyond the stereotypes (which, of course, work both ways). Friendships can be formed at work, school or college, or with neighbours, shopkeepers, hairdressers, etc. Food and hospitality are always good ways to begin friendship – Jesus did this a lot! Sometimes you may be the person to lead someone to the Lord and journey with them for that time, and then they find their own community in a church.

How to use the booklet to relate to Asian friends If you are connecting with people outside of your own culture, it may be helpful to be aware of some of the main cultural practices.

Most practising Muslims do not eat pork or non-halal meat, and do not drink alcohol; and it is better to serve vegetarian food to Hindus and Sikhs, although many do eat meat nowadays. If in doubt, it is better to check with the individual or groups. Hospitality is often a sign of your friendship, so do accept the invitation to share in a meal. (It will help if you like or develop a taste for different cultural food!)

Jesus asked questions, even though He already knew the hearts and history of people. It’s good to ask and learn about the appropriate history, culture and customs of cultures to build a bridge of understanding between you. A few words of the right cultural language – beware; there are many – used appropriately, will help to bring a smile and break down barriers.

You do not have to be fluent but attempting a few phrases in someone’s first language will show genuine interest in other people’s background and cultures. Invitations to church social events such as barbecues are often accepted on special occasions such as Christmas or Easter, as Asian culture especially respects “holy days”. It is good to be aware that if you are inviting conservatively clothed Asian people to summer picnics they may not be comfortable where others may be dressed more openly – but leave that choice to them, or whilst you may invite Muslims to Christmas carol services, be aware that handing them sausage rolls and mulled wine would be very offensive.

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Ways to engage the Asian community with Discovering Jesus The church may have activities that are helpful to some members of the Asian community, such as: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Parent and toddler groups Youth groups English classes or other specialist classes, such as baking Sports activities, football or cricket teams Help for asylum seekers or refugees Musical events Lunch clubs for the elderly Charity/thrift shops Book clubs Intercultural worship evenings Business networking events Community fun days Exam and study support

Our purpose in this discussion course is to help those of us who are followers of Jesus point Asian friends to the love of Jesus. We do that because we have experienced His love and forgiveness and want them to do so as well. Each person has to make up their own mind about what to do after they have encountered Jesus through this course. We will continue to be their friends and to love them and serve them, whatever they choose to do.

Evangelism is a work of God and so we need to be praying constantly for the Lord to give us opportunities with people whose hearts are open to the gospel. In the midst of the crowd, Jesus could single out Zacchaeus in order to go and stay at his house, because Jesus knew that Zacchaeus would repent and believe in Him. Jesus remains the same today, and it is good to ask Him for discernment when inviting people on this journey.

Asians from all kinds of background may simply believe that ‘God is One’. They believe that all religions lead to the same God; they will assume that whatever Christians believe must be fundamentally compatible with their own beliefs and so dismiss the need to ask any questions. We’ve often seen people adding Jesus as an ‘additional god’ to the many others some may believe in.

When befriending someone from an Asian background, it is usually best to approach a person of the same sex, as traditional

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Asian cultures, especially Muslim ones, usually have strict rules separating men and women. This of course may be different when dealing with people who have adapted to Western ways, particularly young people born or brought up in the West. It is worth mentioning that it is usually not a good idea to talk to Muslims in a group, as even if they are interested in what you have to say, they will often be frightened to show it in front of other Muslims. The same may apply to a lesser extent with members of other faiths, where interest in Christianity may be seen as disloyalty to their own faith.

Try to discern if your friend would be more comfortable discussing Christian faith individually or if they would be happy to join a group.

Emphasise that the group will be very informal, with opportunities to express opinions, discuss and ask further questions. Assure them that the aim is to explore what the Bible says about these questions together – it won’t be a religious lecture!

Listen well and invite others Remember to listen well. The sessions are not about us, but about what God is doing in the individual’s life. Listening and asking follow-up questions is great, but ensure it’s not just one main voice in the room. Invite others to speak into conversations; some people won’t speak unless they are invited to speak or share – some may just be shy.

How to continue for those who are interested 1. Pray continually and rely on the Holy Spirit to lead you in the discussion.

2. Be a genuine friend and try to demonstrate God’s love. Heated debate and argument are not helpful and should be avoided.

3. Never attack the other person’s religion as this will only alienate them. Once a friendship has been established and interest shown, areas of difference between their faith and following Jesus will become evident, but deal with them with gentleness and respect.

4. Be hospitable and accept hospitality, but remember that Muslims do not eat pork or non-halal meat and do not drink alcohol, and it is safer to serve vegetarian food to most people of other faiths.

Again, always ask and don’t assume.

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5. Use the Bible respectfully. Some consider it disrespectful to put a holy book on the floor or on a table where there is food, or to write in it. Invite them to read the Bible for themselves, perhaps by offering them a Gospel to read. The style and content of Matthew or Luke are more helpful for Muslims, and John for Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.

6. Do offer to pray for them as they will usually appreciate this. The Qur’an says that Jesus healed the sick and so Muslims will often accept prayer for healing in Jesus’ name. Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists will respect Jesus as a holy religious teacher and/or an incarnation of God, and so will usually welcome prayer in His name.

7. Learn as much as you can about their background and community as part of building a bridge of genuine friendship.

8. Share your personal story and later, if possible, introduce them to someone from their faith who came to follow Jesus, if they want to, but please note that this may cause offence to some if done too quickly.

9. If they would like you to, offer to introduce them to a group of likeminded people from the same background who are following Jesus.

10. Be prepared to be their new family if they are rejected by their own.

We hope this won’t happen as we would like people to stay in their communities and families, but this may be true for some. Change is inevitable and we should let the Holy Spirit guide and lead them.

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THE SESSIONS

Before the course starts Prayer • We encourage you to have prayer covering as you lead the course. Ask people in your small group, church leaders or friends to pray for you.

• Pray for the individuals and groups you are leading that the Holy Spirit would speak to them throughout the course through the Bible and to encounter love.

Taster session • Why not host a taster session where you can give people a glimpse into the course to set the expectations of what the course is about?

• We’ve written a taster session outline for you and encourage you to host one. This helps to get an idea of where people are in their journey and spark curiosity about Jesus.

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THE SESSIONS

For group sessions • Send a reminder to those who have signed up each week and make sure you’ve got permission to be in contact (GDPR).

• Ensure you have sent the session dates and times so people can put them in their diaries.

• Sometimes people can run late (this can be cultural). Whilst not true for everyone, it might be worth setting an earlier time for people to arrive, so you have a full house when starting.

• Lay tables and chairs out for groups.

• If you are having a meal, ensure you have people’s dietary requirements so you can cater properly – keep it simple unless you have time on your hands.

• Make sure the room is well lit and at a comfortable temperature.

• You may want to provide some paper and pens so participants can make notes.

Individuals and safeguarding • Ensure you have sent the session dates, so the individual has them in their diary.

• We do not recommend male/female one-to-one meetings. It’s fine if you are doing this as a couple with the individual. This guidance is here to ensure lines do not become blurred and keeps both the facilitator and individual safe.

Cultural awareness – the dos and don’ts • Do ask questions – remember each Asian culture is so varied even within itself.

• Do dress appropriately with nothing too revealing, as in some traditional cultures this may not be appropriate.

Material reading/watching videos before the session • If you want to, you can ask individuals to watch the session videos beforehand, so you have more time to discuss this during your gatherings. We leave this decision to you as the leader, for your preference.

Preparing a meal • If you plan on hosting with a meal, we recommend preparing it earlier in the day so you can focus on the session. It’s always good to get some help for bigger groups.

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During the session • Play worship songs in different languages as people come in. (A link to a Spotify list will be made available for you.)

• Open the session in prayer and commit the session to the Lord.

• Relax, be yourself and let the Holy Spirit lead.

• Look for where the Lord is moving in the room during the video session.

• Follow the session guide.

In between the sessions • Keep engagement with your group or individual via WhatsApp or other channels. Make sure you’ve asked for permission to contact them. It’s best not to message unless sharing details about the course or if the participant reaches out. Be sure to respond during appropriate times of the day and not too late at night.

• Do send weekly challenge reminders and let them know you are praying for them. Ask if they need prayer for anything specific.

After the course finishes • You’ve finished – well done; you’ve introduced people to Jesus!

We are sure you’ve had plenty of great conversations and perhaps some challenging ones too.

• Some may make the decision to follow Jesus and that’s wonderful.

We’ve seen God move in powerful ways in people’s lives.

• If the participants would like to, invite them to attend church weekly and connect them to the local church.

• Start a post course connect/homegroup for those who wish to continue to go deeper. We recommend Bible Society’s ‘The Bible course’. (biblesociety.org.uk/explore-the-bible/the-bible-course) • Signpost participants to resources and books for further reading.

• Some may not choose to pursue going further and that’s okay.

We want to support people wherever they are on their walk with God. Do keep encouraging and praying for them and let them know that Jesus loves them!

Any questions?

Email: saf@eauk.org

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A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE MAIN ASIAN RELIGIONS, BELIEFS AND GEOGRAPHY It is good to have a brief introduction to the main religious and spiritual beliefs that you are likely to encounter when trying to reach Asian people with the gospel. Do bear in mind that these short summaries cover only the most basic and commonly held beliefs of the various religions, and there is in existence a wide range and variety of more detailed doctrines and practices.

There is no substitute for listening carefully and respectfully to your friend to find out exactly what they believe and how it ‘works’ for them. Listen carefully with a desire to learn; try not to make assumptions about what they believe before they tell you.

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GEOGRAPHY

Often people can get confused when we say South Asian, so we want to be clear about geographical areas.

Most religions exist across the boundaries, but there is a difference in where people come from and how they might practise their faith, culture or traditions.

We will use the term ‘Asian’ to cover all nations listed below as key areas – there may be some missing: South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives and Nepal. Please note some of those with roots from India may have been born in Uganda or Kenya as well (through the period of the British Empire) and come to the UK when Idi Amin expelled South Asians.

Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, TimorLeste and Vietnam.

East Asia: China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea and Taiwan, plus the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

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ISLAM

Religions

Islam involves submitting to the authority of Allah, who Muslims believe is the one and only God as revealed to His prophets, of whom Muhammad is the last.

Islam means “submission”, and a Muslim believes Allah created all things, including humanity, angels and jinn (spiritual creatures).

Muslims primarily follow the will of Allah as revealed to Muhammad in the Qur’an, but also accept that Allah previously revealed the Taurat, or Law, to Musa (Moses); the Zabur, or Psalms, to Daoud (David); and the Injil, or Gospel, to Isa (Jesus). Each of these revelations is seen as building on and superseding the previous ones, and history is seen as progressing towards a final Judgement. The traditions of the prophet Muhammad, the Hadith, are also respected and taken as guidance for godly living, although they do not have the same ultimate authority as the Qur’an.

Allah is seen as the same God who revealed himself to Jews and Christians, but it is said to be blasphemy to attribute a partner to him or to say that Isa (Jesus) is the Son of God. The “five pillars” of Islam are: recital of the kalima, or creed; namaaz, or prayers, five times a day; roza, or fasting, from sunrise to sunset every day in the month of Ramadan; zaqat, or giving alms to the poor; and the Haj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca once in a lifetime.

In Islam, the duty of humankind involves obeying the laws of Allah.

It is believed that each person’s deeds are recorded by two angels, one recording good deeds and one recording bad deeds. On the Day of Judgement at the end of time, these deeds will be weighed up and the person consigned to Paradise or Hell accordingly. Allah, however, has the ultimate authority and can choose to exercise mercy or not. It is considered an unforgivable sin to feel sure of going to Paradise, as this decision belongs only to Allah, who controls all things.

A Muslim should acknowledge Allah’s power over everything by saying “Insha ‘Allah” (God willing) concerning future events or plans. Muslims are called to belong to the Ummah, or global community of those who submit to the will of Allah, and this is seen as transcending national or ethnic identities.

Different types of Muslims: There are two types of groups (generally) Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims and it’s worth reading around what this means as it impacts how they view Islam and their beliefs.1

1. bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z78g4qt/revision/7

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Key festivals: • Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan.

• Eid al-Adha marks when Ibrahim (Abraham) was willing to sacrifice Isaac.

• Ramadan marks the Islamic new year (prayer and fasting for one month).

• Mawlid al-Nabi celebrates the prophet Muhammed’s birthday.

Religions

HINDUISM

Common ground: Muslims do believe in the second coming of Jesus, and they do believe He was a prophet. They pray, fast, are hospitable and believe in charity, especially during Ramadan.

Hinduism is a term used to describe the historical religious beliefs of the people of India. It does not have a set creed and is sometimes described as a “parliament of religions”. An individual Hindu may believe in one god, a few, many or none at all, and may view ultimate reality or God as personal or impersonal. Hindus believe that Hinduism is about ‘a way of life’1.

There are some beliefs which are common to most Hindus, they are as follows: There is one ultimate reality, or Brahman, manifested through countless names, forms and images. There is a wide variety of forms of worship and paths to salvation. Three key gods known as Trimurti: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer). The latter two are the most worshipped. From these three key gods are the incarnations of other gods (eg Krishna) and goddesses – some of whom have ‘manifested’ in people during the nine-day festival of Navaratri (or home blessings) – this is mainly for Gujaratis.

Some of these beliefs are mediated by spiritual teachers or gurus, and almost all ways of trying to approach God are seen as equally valid, just as “all paths up a mountain lead to its summit”. Hindus believe that humans can be easily distracted from this task by maya. The Hindu concept of maya means ‘illusion’ and refers to the ways in which a person’s existence and self-centredness stop them from seeing the truth. Hindus believe that maya can exert a powerful influence on people.

1. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/rationalthoughts/what-is-hinduism-areligion-or-a-way-of-life-40809/

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HINDUISM

Religions

Humans often feel that the most important things in life are relationships, family and what they own. Many Hindus believe that these things are simply an illusion, or maya, that distracts from the spiritual truth.1 Salvation, or moksha, is the release from the cycle of reincarnation – life and death, seen by some as merging back into the essence of Brahman.

Individuals are usually expected to pass through many reincarnations as they try to achieve moksha. They are required to conform to a right way of living, or dharma, in harmony with their family, caste and community. The law of karma (the belief that every good or bad action has consequences in this and the next life) determines the state into which they are reincarnated.

The hierarchical human caste system is seen as reflecting the karmic status achieved in the previous life; the accumulation of good deeds resulting in a higher caste status in the next life. Life circumstances, such as disability, disease, success or failure, can also be seen as reflections of the karma of the previous life.

Bad deeds can result in humans being reincarnated as animals.

Practising Hindus are usually vegetarian or vegan, reflecting this belief in the continuity of existence from animal to human. All life is seen as sacred; however, many western Hindus are meat eaters.

For some this is done privately but most eat publicly.

Different types of Hindus: Gujaratis originate from Northwest India and Tamils from South India. Tamils often blend Hindu gods with local customs.

Key festivals: • Navaratri – nine days of worshipping Hindu goddesses • Diwali – a festival of lights to symbolise light overcoming darkness • Rama Navami – worship of Ram • Janmashtami – worship of Krishna • Shivaratri – worship of Shiva • For Tamils this includes Diwali, Pongal, Puthandu (Tamil new year).

Common ground: Worship, prayer and fasting, so it’s worth asking why they are fasting and which god they are doing it for (if they do).

1. bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z4848mn/revision/6

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SIKHISM

Religions

Sikhism is the teaching and way of life taught by the ten Sikh gurus and contained in the Sikh holy book, or Guru Granth Sahib.

Sikhs believe in one personal God, who created everything and is present within all things. He is seen as the same God as the God of Jews, Christians and Muslims, but He is thought to be unknowable and only revealed through His word, or shabad, His name/ personality, or Naam, and through enlightened teachers, or gurus.

God is not thought to assume physical form and idol worship is forbidden. Beyond this, all ways of trying to approach God that do not involve idol worship are seen as equally valid.

Sikhism is the way taught by the ten gurus, starting with Guru Nanak and ending with Guru Gobind Singh, and presently revealed in the holy book, or Guru Granth Sahib, which is seen as containing the spirit of the gurus. Sikhs should seek to remove their attachment to the things of this world and seek union with God, or moksha, through meditation on God’s shabad or Naam. Sikhs have similar beliefs to Hindus about karma and reincarnation. Individuals are usually expected to pass through many reincarnations, trying to achieve moksha through good deeds. Karma is thought to determine the state into which Sikhs are reincarnated, but they do not believe in a caste system. Sikhs are seen as being part of a brotherhood, or Khalsa, in which all, including men and women, are equal.

Men are given the name Singh, which means ‘lion’, and women are given the name Kaur, which means ‘princess’, and the use of these names aims to eliminate caste differences, which are identified through family names. Bad deeds can result in humans being reincarnated as animals, and strict Sikhs are usually vegetarian, reflecting this belief in the continuity of existence from animal to human.

Sikhs believe strongly in service to others and Sikh temples, or gurdwaras, provide free food seven days a week to feed all those who attend.

Different types of Sikhs: “Khalsa is Akaal Purakh Ki Fauj, meaning ‘the army of God’. Within an army, there are different people with different duties, and they are good at the unique skills they have.

“Similarly, Taksalis are very good at Paath (reading scriptures), Akhand Kirtani Jatha is good at Kirtan (devotional music), Nihung Singhs are good with Shashtars (weapons), Nanaksaris are into Simran (remembering Vaheguru), and Nishkam Seva Jatha is into Seva (selfless service). These are not groups, but a style of being.

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“Khalsa Panth is as big as the universe. So, there is a place for everybody in it. Therefore, if you are more on the spiritual side, it doesn’t mean that Amrit (nectar of immortality) is not for you because when you require it, you still have a Kirpan (sword worn by initiated Sikhs) on you.”1 Key festivals: • Vaisakhi, Bandi chorr divas – this is Diwali, known as the festival of lights.

• Gurpurabs – birthdays or martyrdom of Sikh gurus.

BUDDHISM

Religions

Common ground: Reading of scriptures, praying, worship and serving. It’s good to understand why there are different types of Sikhs and which group of Sikhs might belong to and what that means for them.

Buddhism is the teaching and way of life of Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who had been brought up as a Hindu. It has no authoritative book and has developed several schools of philosophy in various parts of Asia, many of which have incorporated elements of the previous local beliefs and culture.

There are big differences between these different expressions of Buddhism (see below).

Buddhism is essentially an atheist philosophy, without mention of a personal god, which sees the universe as having evolved and operating under natural and spiritual laws. The ultimate reality is seen as unknowable by our ordinary conscious mind.

Buddha is thought to have achieved spiritual enlightenment and taught that all human suffering and evil is the result of an ignorance of the true nature of reality, which produces selfish desires.

Enlightenment, or nirvana, is achieved when this ignorance is dispelled through a programme of self-perfection known as the Eightfold Path. This involves right belief, thought, speech, action, means of livelihood, exertion, remembrance and meditation.

Buddha called this the middle way between the extremes of asceticism and materialism.

1. https://www.basicsofsikhi.com/post/why-are-there-different-types-of-sikhs

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People need to live through many lives to work at this selfperfection, and failure to achieve enlightenment results in continual rebirth under the law of karma, which reflects how the person lived in their previous life. Buddhism prescribes non-violence and vegetarianism due to the belief in the unity of all living things. In many Buddhist countries, male monks and female nuns give up ordinary life to pursue meditation and other disciplines to try to achieve self-perfection and often live by begging. Many give to the monks in the hope of gaining merit.

Finally, when ignorance is dispelled through the Eightfold Path, the individual ceases to be concerned about self and earthly desires, which cause suffering, and is no longer reincarnated, but instead achieves oneness with the universe in enlightenment, or nirvana.

Different types of Buddhists: As mentioned, there are big differences between different forms of Buddhism in different cultures. For example, across East Asia (not only China) the influence of Confucianism has been strong. The Falun Gong movement combines traditional Chinese practices with Buddhist teaching. Japanese people follow both Buddhism and Shinto (a religion of nature spirits). Some emphasise the role of ‘saviours’, enlightened beings who help humans, but self-reliance is also strong, as it is in Thai or Sri Lankan Buddhism (though many Thai Buddhists are also greatly influenced by spirits). Tibetan Buddhism incorporates strong belief in demons and occult powers. Western converts to Buddhism, with their different cultural backgrounds, in some ways represent yet another type. The thread of karma (which leaves the ultimate responsibility to the individual) runs through them all and links South and East Asian religious traditions.

Key festivals: • Vesak celebrates the birthday, enlightenment and death of Buddha – generally when paper lanterns are released.

• Parinirvana Day, known as Nirvana Day – the passing of Buddha.

Common ground: The key area would be around compassion, love and giving to others. Finding a central place of peace. Both faiths focus on detachment from the material world. Meditation should not be mistaken as the way Christians meditate on God’s word. The belief in a ‘spirit’ as we would say The Holy Spirit, though this is a stretch to compare!

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JAINISM

Religions

Jains are a small but influential religious community from India, whose distinctive focus is living with the utmost respect for all forms of life. The Jain community today dates back to the reformer Mahavir, who lived at the same time as Buddha (around 599–527 BC).

Like Hindus, Jains believe in reincarnation and karma (though they view it differently). They do not believe in gods or spiritual beings.

Every living being has a soul and each soul is the architect of its own life, following the guiding principles of right belief (perception), right knowledge and right conduct (‘the three jewels’). This leads eventually to liberation or moksha.

Jains are strict vegetarians and seek above all the principle of non-violence, or ahimsa. They tend to not eat root or underground vegetables either, including things like garlic or onion.

In practice, Jains associate closely with Hindus and many worship Hindu gods, alongside their distinctive Jain beliefs.

Different types of Jains: There are two main sects: Digambara and Svetambara. Digambara monks believe in nakedness to achieve liberation and Svetambaras believe that monks can wear white clothing and achieve liberation. Some believe that women cannot receive liberation until they have been reborn as a man. There are key differences in what they believe scripturally. It is highly unlikely that you will find them in the UK – but it’s good to understand.

Key festivals: • Mahavir Jayanti – the celebration of Mahavira.

• Paryushana – period of looking inwards and forgiveness.

• Diwali – celebrating Mahavir’s enlightenment.

Common ground: The key area would be around forgiveness. You could ask their view on forgiveness and what that means for them and share what this means for followers of Jesus.

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ZOROASTRIANISM

Religions

Zoroastrians are an even smaller religious community, originating in Persia (Iran), but now almost all live in India or are scattered around the world. Their religion was founded by Zarathustra (Zoroaster) sometime between 1500 and 600 BC. He preached monotheism and this faith became the state religion of Persia until Muslim invasion around AD 650, when some followers fled to India and settled there, becoming known as Parsis (Persians).

Zoroastrians believe in one creator god, Ahura Mazda (Ohrmazd), who is opposed by an evil spirit, Aura Mainyu (Ahriman). Humans must join in the cosmic struggle of good over evil and choose between right and wrong, light and darkness. Zoroastrians follow high ethical standards and are widely respected for their honesty and skills in business and other professions.

They are flexible and well-integrated into society, although they are also very loyal to their own community.

Different types of Zoroastrians: There are different formations of Zoroastrians – those who went to India from Iran (Parsis, pronounced par-sees) and those who remain in Iran. Like most faiths there are those who follow the original texts and others who have adapted along the way.

Key festivals: • Jamshedi Nowroz – the Persian new year • Six Gahanbars/Gahambhars – known as feasts Common ground: The belief in one creator god, the struggle between good and evil. It’s good to understand their work ethic and high ethical standards.

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Religions

ATHEISM

Religions

AGNOSTIC

Religions

THE OCCULT & WITCHCRAFT 30

There are many parts of Asia, particularly those that have experienced communist rule, where atheism has been the official doctrine for many years – China and Vietnam for example. Atheism is, however, also on the rise in many other Asian countries, fuelled by a dissatisfaction with religion and its negative influences on life and cultural development.

There are many who are just not sure what they believe – but they believe in something. Some believe in a higher power, or something more powerful than them. They tend to be spiritually open but sadly not always to the right things.

There are many who without realising it practise the occult through things like black/white magic, casting spells and cursing others. The rise in things like Harry Potter have made it common for young people to ‘practise magic’. Whilst this may seem innocent and just a bit of fun, good overcoming evil is achieved with spells – not a biblical concept. Christians will have different views on these practices, but it’s good to understand why this may not be wise or line up with the gospel.

NEW AGE/THE UNIVERSE

Religions

The New Age movement united a body of diverse believers with two simple ideas: first, it predicted that a New Age of heightened spiritual consciousness and international peace would arrive and bring an end to racism, poverty, sickness, hunger and war.

This social transformation would result from the massive spiritual awakening of the general population during the next generation.

Second, individuals could obtain a foretaste of the New Age through their own spiritual transformation. Initial changes would put the believer on the sadhana, a new path of continual growth and transformation.1 There are new age practices that operate within the religions we’ve mentioned above. New age is about the individual experience and spiritual experiences, some of which are through: astrology, numerology, channelling, energy healing (reiki healing, crystal healing), divination, tarot card reading, psychic readings, spiritualists (who sometimes wear crosses), vision boards and affirmations, yoga (part of the Hindu faith), meditation and mindfulness.

Please note this is common across Asian culture and we must be aware not to fall into these practices ourselves. Whilst some people may practise ‘Christian yoga’2 this is not a Christian concept. Yoga finds it roots in the Rig Vedas for Hindus. It means to be yoked or in union with Shiva ‘the lord of yogis’; some believe it’s with Vishnu and others Krishna. Whilst there are more generalised yoga practices (much driven by American fads), it’s important to remember the root is from Hinduism and not Jesus.

There are also people who believe they can manifest their own realities through the belief in a ‘higher power’ or the universe – this can be new age thought but also rooted in ‘Vedanta’ which is in Hinduism, Pantheism and Taoism.

1. britannica.com/topic/New-Age-movement 2. douglasgroothuis.com/post/mike-shreve-on-yoga-christianity-and-the-new-ageworldview

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eauk.org/discoveringjesus