Reflections is a weekly spotlight on faith within the campus community through intimate student interviews.
Over the last six weeks, I have been privileged to interview students of various faiths: a Baha'i, a Muslim, a Jew, a Roman Catholic, a Pagan and a Methodist. As I reflect back on these candid conversations, I am deeply touched by the realization that our faiths are more similar than many of us dare to believe.
I imagine a not-too-distant future in which I can raise my children to know and understand the sacredness of all faiths. I imagine a neighborhood of diverse people willing to share and learn from each other. These people could be Natika Calhoun -- a Baha'i -- teaching my children about the commonalities between all people, Danish Siddiqui -- a Muslim -- exploring the sense of community, Naftali Thomas -- an Orthodox Jew -- celebrating Divine Law, Omar Paez -- a Catholic -- exulting universal hope, Lynn Shultz -- a Pagan -- underscoring the value of diversity and Julie Kemker -- a Methodist -- communicating the essence of tolerance. But they could also be any Tom, Dick and Mary. Each person, no matter how seemingly mundane, can contribute something to the world.
Martin Luther King once said, "I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word." These words can resonate through our society in many ways by uniting people of different races, genders and sexual orientations. But our community can only be truly great if we also apply the words of Dr. King to sharing in the diversity of faiths. We all bring our own unique understandings of faith and religion to the table. If we are are willing to listen, we can each understand one another's inner truths and become more enlightened within our own spiritual movements. Millions before us have made the ultimate sacrifice to allow us to be in the position we are today -- free to choose our faith. Let us not betray their memory.
Some people are afraid to accept. They may feel they will lose something if they dare to explore other faiths or make friends with people who are different. But whose God endorses close-mindedness and intolerance? Religious prejudice is a product of man, not of the Divine.
My own personal faith is only reafirmed when I speak to people of different faiths. It is affirmed by the realization that God is not isolated to one people. The Divine is avaliable to all who seek it. Though our names for God and religious customs can vary because of cultural differences, I can't help but be confronted with the fact that we are all really talking about the same thing.
If you are interested in sharing your faith within the format of this series please write to helmsmanlib@memphis.edu attention Blake Walker.
