This seems like a strange yet obvious sermon to give; yet it is a very complex and sensitive topic. Whatever your religious persuasions might be, this book lies at the heart of it all. No matter your translation or name, in one form or another it is central to all things religious.

Men have killed for those words. Women have betrayed, brothers have turned their backs on one another. More wars have been fought in “God’s” name, in deed in the bibles name, than in any other.

As we look around us, we see slaughter and carnage left in the wake of “men of God, Allah, Buddha”. The one less tolerant than the next. Holding a weapon in one hand and his holy book in the other. A book that by in large preaches love and tolerance, patience, guidance and shared spirituality.

It is a book that, like any other, requires us to use our imaginations as it speaks to us of a world none of us has seen, in a while, much less understand.

It inspires passion and compassion; it broadens our horizons and focuses our eyes on God, as you perceive him. It shows us a way of life that guarantees us happiness and longevity. It keeps us grounded and “good” Or at least this is what it was meant to do. Instead it inspired hatred, violence, cruelty and unimaginable acts. The book that was handed to us to stop all our shortcomings has caused endless heartache in the hands of men.

Can we honestly believe that a God of love and he loves us, no matter which book you read, could condone anything that we have done in “His Name”. Can we honestly believe that after we have mutilated his words to serve our purposes, whether it be misinterpretation, mistranslations, omission, creative writing, additions or war, that we are still being true to Him, His universal plan our ourselves.

Can we carry on deluding ourselves? Yes, I think we can, the question is, do we want to. Let us look at this wondrous book, as it was meant to be looked at. A guide, inspiration and a story. Filled with contradictions, truths, legends, heroes, desperate men and woman, love and above all, God in all forms.

Know that it was written by and through men over a vast space of time, it has been used as a means to an end and has been wielded as a weapon but has also been used for so much good.

Let us now all leave here with the knowledge in our hearts that God loves us, whether you call him, the Universal Force or anything right through to multiple deities. Fact is we are all one; we all have one end and one beginning. God, as you perceive him. Do not betray us all with delusions of grandeur. He loves me just as much as he does you. And if He can love us all, surely we should be able to do the same or at the very least be the bigger man and be tolerant of each other’s differences.

After all we are all made from the same cloth, we just have different decorations and fashion sense. God loves diversity and colour and the magic that is us.

Blessed Be, God be with you, Shalom, As-Salamu Alaykum.