This past week I attended an interfaith colloquium aimed at addressing interfaith tensions with Michael Leonard, executive director of Launching Leaders Worldwide. It was a wonderful evening where millennials of several faiths gathered around tables to discuss hot topics and the best approach to resolve the tensions surrounding them.
While I served mostly as an observer, I was amazed and excited about the discussions at our table which were totally respectful, even with differing opinions, and clearly a demonstration of civility and understanding.
Early Sunday morning in our home town of Fort Collins, Colorado, the Islamic Center was vandalized, someone breaking windows with bricks and throwing a Bible through the window. Within a couple of hours, a local Rabbi called for a gathering of solidarity at the center that evening, where over 1,000 gathered to express their unity.
I am deeply saddened and befuddled that this expression of hate has a place in our community, and yet, the world sees radical behavior to disagreement increasing. This past week in London we saw terror with innocent victims killed; the result of hatred by those who oppose other’s values. Our good friend Brian Grim, President of the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, was departing London at the very moment this terror occurred. He wrote an article in which he provided a profound quote by Cardinal Nichols surrounding this incident:
“Let our voice be one of prayer, of compassionate solidarity, and of calm. All who believe in God, Creator and Father of every person, will echo this voice, for faith in God is not a problem to be solved, but a strength and a foundation on which to depend.”
Just last night, I was reading of the plight of many in the Middle East whose lives have been shattered by hatred. I mourned the plight and challenge of bridging interfaith tensions. In one of my previous blog posts – Respect Diversity Respectfully – I focused on communication in social media. Those lessons can easily be adapted in bridging tensions as follows:
Imagine the conversation is “face to face”. What if those who decided to gain media attention from a hateful act, instead considered airing their differences in a non-confrontational way, face to face. We must work even harder at resolving tensions respectfully and without ultimatums. Who benefits from violence? In the interfaith world I live in, I can’t think of a single faith that can’t celebrate many values we have in common while at the same time coming to respect and understand each other’s viewpoints. It requires placing yourself in those settings and lowering the protective shields and judgment.
Respect Diversity Respectfully. As mentioned, there are sharp differences in today’s world about many things. The solution isn’t to create violence and then run away. The solution is to “let our voice be one of prayer, of compassionate solidarity, and of calm.” I realize that those who are inflicting hateful acts are probably not reading this blog; but if enough of us who are can raise our voices in this spirit, perhaps we can make a difference.
Weigh Your Words and Actions. In bridging the gap of tensions, carefully and respectfully expressing opinions with the respect and dignity that every person deserves is a great starting point. This starting point orbits around the thought that we are all equals living on the same planet. Just as all of the living species on the earth must live in a harmonious balance to coexist, likewise we ought to be able to create this balance in our words and actions amongst each other.
At the table discussion the other night at the interfaith colloquium, I heard very different opinions discussed with words carefully weighed while still being authentic and transparent. They discussed highly sensitive issues of our day, and yet they did so with such dignity and respect for the others view point— it was extremely refreshing. At the end of the evening, I did speak up (as the only boomer at the table—with a millennial heart of course) to say that I was honored to be with them and to witness such a fine display of resolving interfaith tensions. It was truly a dialogue worth emulating.
Across the land, in local universities and in churches, and in the public square, there are opportunities to gather and show unity in the face of tensions. There are opportunities to peacefully gather to celebrate others viewpoints. Let us bridge the gaps that divide us and lock arms with our diverse communities in a show of solidarity. I realize that much of the hate and violence are the acts of lone wolves; but it is a reminder to all of us that we should always take a higher road as we bridge tensions through effective dialogue, respect, and yes, even LOVE.
Our celebrated millennials teach us tolerance and acceptance of diversity in a new and wonderful way. Let every generation join forces in stamping out intolerance and hate.
