A Dozen Ways to Draw the Fine Line Between Heaven and Hell

Karen Robinson had no knowledge of Islam other than what she learned through the media or casual conversations: She feared it bred violence.

But she wanted to know more. So she attended the workshop on Muslims and their religion at the Religious Diversity Faire at UC Irvine Saturday, and walked away with a far different perception.

“An Introduction to Islam and Muslims” gave her “accurate information that dispels the stereotype I had of the religion,” said Robinson, 51, of Huntington Beach. “It does not promote and preach violence.”

She added: “This diversity fair tells me I need to learn more . . . and not assume that the images projected about different religions are accurate without finding more information firsthand.”

Organizers of the third annual fair say that is the fair’s purpose.

“The Religious Diversity Faire is so important because people from different faith traditions often don’t know what others believe, which can lead to fear and misunderstanding,” said Kay Lindahl of Laguna Niguel, who founded the Alliance for Spiritual Community, an Orange County group with members of various faiths. “The fair builds bridges of mutual respect among people from all different backgrounds and beliefs.”

Organizers said about 1,000 people attended this year’s event, which featured information about a dozen major faiths of the world as well as 35 workshops on everything from who gets into heaven to spiritual healing.

So who among us mortals qualifies for heaven?

Whoever embraces God’s teaching, said Craig Hawkins, an instructor from Simon Greenleaf University in Tustin who represented the Christian view.

Those who do good and live an honest and sincere life, offered Dr. Ahmad Sakr, director of the Islamic Education Center in California.

Everyone, because there is heaven on earth, suggested the Rev. Diana McDaniel, founding minister of the Unity Chapel by the Sea in San Juan Capistrano.

The Swami Atma Rupananda, a Hindu who is minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, had a quite different take. There is no heaven or hell, he said.

Sitting in on the workshop was Anne Hogan-Shereshevsky of Costa Mesa. She didn’t learn anything new, the 79-year-old woman said.

But, Hogan-Shereshevsky added, the speakers confirmed her basic belief: “If you do good on earth and you follow your better nature, you’ll get there [to heaven]. You’ll get there.”

Another workshop that drew a large crowd was “East Meets West,” where the seven panelists included representatives from the Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist and Islamic faiths.

They wrestled with the question of what happens after death.

“If we misuse this life . . . then eternal life is a life of misery and pain,” answered Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, director of the Islamic Society of Orange County.

“Death is a serious subject for you,” the Venerable Jong Mae Park, a Buddhist monk, told the audience, “but not for us.”

It is but a transition in the cycle of life that contains much sufferings, he said when the laughter subsided.