July 2004 HIVAN/WCRP Forum

Questions you?’ve always wanted to ask your religious leader about HIV/AIDS but were afraid to ask ?… was the focus of the July 2004 Forum of Faith-leaders and HIV/AIDS researchers, co-hosted by the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) and HIVAN, and held at Durban?’s Temple David.

Questions you?’ve always wanted to ask your religious leader about HIV/AIDS but were afraid to ask ?… was the focus of the July 2004 Forum of Faith-leaders and HIV/AIDS researchers, co-hosted by the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) and HIVAN, and held at Durban?’s Temple David.

The panel was led by Sue Brittion from the Anglican Church, who welcomed Prof Jerry Coovadia as co-chair, along with Reverend M. Mthethwa from the Nazareth Baptist Church, Bruce Thomson from the Ba?’Hai faith, Reverend Roy Govender from the Methodist Church and Mr Morgan Narismulu representing the Hindu faith.

Very cold and wet weather resulted in a relatively small gathering, but a nonetheless lively and intimate forum for dialogue. Sue Brittion asked each panellist to outline how they as faith-leaders approach and confront the realities of HIV/AIDS, while trying to uphold the doctrines and traditions of their respective religious philosophies. ?“How do we see the tenets of our own faiths as helpful to people living with HIV/AIDS??” she queried. ?“What we preach is not always what is practised, and interpretations of scriptures might not offer all the means of addressing humanity in an era of HIV/AIDS, and particularly its effects on the ground, among people with and for whom we serve.?”

Mr Morgan Narismulu responded on behalf of the Hindu faith, reporting an increasing integration of AIDS awareness in the Hindu education programme, while acknowledging that there is a gap between what is conveyed within the religious sanctum as opposed to the discourse in broader society. ?“The children in our community know about the implications of AIDS, and certainly there are useful books in libraries, and authoritative sources quoted in newspapers regarding AIDS statistics that ordinary people could use as references. But we can?’t view the epidemic as a particularly Hindu issue. It?’s a house on fire, and we, all of us, need to put the fire out. It?’s too much of a social emergency to consider the finer points of the Hindu perspective on it,?” he said.

Rev Mthethwa relayed in isiZulu through his interpreter, Mr Musa Khomo, that the Nazareth Baptist Church congregation does not observe much evidence of HIV/AIDS, because their teachings require males and females to be separated until marriage, and very few who join as new members appear to be infected. The Church?’s response to those who do disclose an HIV-positive status, or complications as a result of AIDS, is to pray for these individuals.

Bruce Thomson of the Ba?’Hai faith explained that the principles of their tradition speak directly to the issues underpinning the HIV/AIDS pandemic, namely the unity of mankind, the interconnectedness of all people, as well as the need for individual responsibility. ?“Our main contribution to HIV/AIDS as a social issue is that we work against prejudice wherever we see it, and this is a fundamental aim of our faith. We acknowledge that we must educate ourselves as leaders and assist our members, especially youth, in gaining awareness about the condition and taking responsibility for themselves.?”

The full report can be accessed on the righthand side of this page