A panel of representatives from each ofthe three main Western religions met to discuss the religious truths surrounding intellectual and relgios freedom, a moderator said.

Representatives from the Jewish, Catholic, and Muslim religions spoke Monday night as part of the Jews, Christians and Muslims in Conversation series sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and various campus ministries.

Each of the representatives addressed the topic from the perspective of their own religion and then addressed questions from the audience.

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Father Roger Karban of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville, said both the Christian and Jewish religions share the same basic belief that every person has the spirit of God inside them and should try to live that spirit.

Karban quoted Saint Thomas Aquinas when he spoke about choosing between the ideals of religion and intellectual discoveries. He said a person is to question the premises of each contradiction.

Human beings’ minds can not contradict God’s mind if that human mind is following right reason.

Karban spoke of a current debate regarding the display of photographs of nude Holocaust victims. He said when displaying works of art, respect should be the first guideline.

If people are going to be hurt, you should not do it, he said. Some conservative Jews feel those photos will hurt the memory of their relatives.

Imam Zul-Jalaal Haqq, Muslim Chaplain of Illinois Dept. of Corrections, said the Muslim view has a clear understanding that God made people to be artistic and intellectual.

He said the pursuit of artistic and intellectual freedom is not wrong, but Muslims strictly follow the laws of God as written in the Koran and attribute their knowledge to God.

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A Muslim would not paint if it is against the guidance of god, he said. Haaq discussed the death threat placed on Salman Rushdie by Ayatollah Khamenie after he wrote improper information about the Islamic religion in his novel The Satanic Verses.

He said he agreed with the idea of punishing a person for speaking falsely about someone, but not a punishment of death. He said people should be allowed to express themselves without resorting to libelous statements.

Steve Low, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Southern Illinois, gave an interpretation of a story involving the Jewish scholar Hillel to illustrate the Jewish perspective on intellectual and artistic freedom.

He said Hillel told a man in one sentence, the ultimate goal of the Torah, the Hebrew Scriptures, and the Jewish faith.

What is hateful to you do not do to others.

A question asked by an audience member about what kind of religious judgement would fall on a Southern Baptist man who died believing that white men are superior to other races and slavery is acceptable after he died.

Low said the Jewish faith believes actions, not motives, are the deciding factor behind a person’s intellectual views. He said a person has to reflect on how his or her values were influenced.

Even if you make mistakes, you need to look at how you formed your conscience, he said. If you have done good in your life for you and for others, that’s what counts.