Yes the title is correct us poor university students had to go on a RE trip as part of a foundation subject. 9 hours of touring dusty old musty smelling ruins being sermoned too by religious fanatics, this is what I thought before the trip started. In fact for the most part the experience was a good one. The challenge was to visit 4 different religious sights, talk to the curator/or the person that shows you around and then be back by 6.30pm. throughout the day we was expected to absorb some religious knowledge and become enthused about it so when we come to teach this in school we would show the proper respect. So the tour begins in the ‘Shree Sanatan Mandir’ Hindu place of worship. Something that should have been known by our RE tutor was that this day was of special significances, it was a solar eclipse so the main temple, which we had come to see, was off limits to ALL people. So instead, we had to sit listening to this well-intentioned guy for 40 mins. As happens this gave we time to start daydreaming and in my usual dreamy stupor I started taking in the room at large. It had been decorated with the up most care but was showing signs of ware. Apparently it use to be a church but was surplus to requirements so got past into there hands. As this person went on about the religion he belonged to and its importance I noticed the paintings and statues of some of the gods these people believed in. people would come in and show there respect and then lay a gift/ offering in front of these icons. But soon it was time to leave (phew) and move onto our next port of call, the ‘Guru Nanak Gurdwara’.
This is a sheik place of worship, as in the last temple we took off our shoes but here we had to wash our hands as well. We were shown into the prayer hall by a lady guide. She was very nice and explained everything as we went through. To show our respect we was asked to go up to the altar and bow our head.
We sat and waited as she explains what took place here. This was followed by the offering of sugar crystals/nuts and seeds. Once the prayer book had been placed on the altar, we were allowed to walk around the back to observe this book. After this had been completed by all we proceeded upstairs to the onsite museum. This museum had old example of the prayer book. There was also on display;
- Coins (with the worlds smallest coin)
- Examples of traditional clothes
- Photos
- The Five K’s
- Musical instruments
- Scaled models of temples in India
- A large collection of paintings
After the chance to look around we was shown to the main food hall where they kindly provide lunch everyday to everybody that arrives. It was a nice meal and gave us chance to try some different foods.
Next we went to visit Omar Masjid which is a mosque. This was a large modern building with classrooms for the children. It had extremely plush carpets, which are specially made which something like 5 times the stitching involved. Some of the high lights of this building were the Arabic on the walls that took a 60-year-old man 6 weeks to complete in the building and the chandelier which was paid for by one person but has NO religious significance other than to decorate this place of worship, looked even better when it was turned on.
Our last port of call as a Jewish Synagogue. This place was my most favourite. Even though this place was no where as big as the others or as posh or as wealthy, and had far fewer members there was a spirit about the place. Trust me when I say it had a glow about it. It was amazing and I was disappointed that we could on spend 30 mins there. The two people there told of there beliefs and the community they have. However, they also told us of there communities history. They had no problems in telling us that they were a declining religion, as they do not actively recruit. The older guy had the same glow about him as the building. Have to say there social calendar was impressive and there community celebrations and get together’s sounds like something to envy.
I have no religion. If you had to label it, I think I would be an atheist. I have no idea what’s out there. I’m just waiting and trying to find myself. Religion for me is not how you show it or the label you put on it but instead something within yourself, something you feel.
