Posted on: Saturday, May 28, 2005

EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH

By the Rev. Dr. John R. Heidel

More than 100 diverse people from our community spent four hours at an early May symposium exploring the problem of intolerance.

We expressed our commitment to the possibilities of building a community of peace and social justice here. We felt united in our desire to be healing voices of good will, aloha and harmony. We designed strategies for facilitating the efforts of all people of faith toward these goals.

We are inspired by the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu: "We say in Africa, 'A person is a person through other persons.' We are made for togetherness. We are made for friendship. We are made for fellowship. We are different precisely to know our need of one another."

To build a safer, healthier and happier community, we need to learn how to accept the validity, beauty and wisdom of our different spiritual traditions. We need to start with the basics of life — how to live, work, play and, even, worship together.

In the 2003 preface to her book, "Encountering God," Diana Eck wrote: "The critical question is whether we humans can come to understand and perhaps even appreciate our religious differences, while recognizing that we are deeply related and dependent upon one another for our survival."

The news is filled with reports of religiously motivated hatred and violence that results from a misunderstanding or literal interpretation of Scripture. We need to expend our energy in understanding and accepting each other's differences, not in expounding an absolute truth and arguing about who is right.

When we hear about the recruitment of suicide bombers in the name of Allah and death threats against an abortion clinic in the name of Jesus, we need to respond with nonviolent words and actions that reflect our moral values and our understanding of faith.

When we encounter expressions of an exclusivistic, oppressive, intolerant faith, we need to respond with patient listening, thoughtful engagement and kindness.

In his book, "Ethics for the New Millennium," the Dalai Lama wrote: "We cannot escape the necessity of love and compassion. This, then, is my true religion, my simple faith. In this sense, there is no need for temple or church, for mosque or synagogue, no need for complicated philosophy, doctrine, or dogma. Our own heart, our own mind, is the temple. The doctrine is compassion. Love for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are; ultimately these are all we need."

As I write this, I look forward to a wedding. Before the couple express their commitment to each other, I will say: "Saying words is simple; living those words day after day is difficult. The promises you make today must be renewed and redecided every day."

We need the same commitment in the daily living of our "simple" faith.

The Rev. Dr. John R. Heidel is a retired United Church of Christ minister, president of The Interfaith Alliance Hawaii and a member of Christ Church Uniting Disciples and Presbyterians in Kailua.