(c) Great Falls Tribune
In a recent blog post, Dr. Paul Metzger likened the perils of inter-faith dialogue to something we, in Montana, know a great deal about–fire fighting.
Seasoned fire fighters and conflict fighters will tell you that one should never play with fire, nor with conflict. One never starts a conflict simply to have one; it is no game. One must know what one is doing. There must be a redemptive purpose.
One area where conflict erupts quite quickly is in inter-religious dialogue. Sometimes the conflict is redemptive. Sometimes not. Sometimes the avoidance of conflict appears to be redemptive, but it is not.
All too often, I find that those who wish to avoid conflict in the sphere of religion claim that the various religions are ultimately saying the same thing. While there are certainly points of significant contact on a case-by-case basis, there are deep and fundamental differences between various religions. We need to discuss them—even combustible ones that can generate unease and conflict, not for the sake of starting wildfires, but for the sake of reducing out-of-control conflicts from occurring. The purpose of generating such unease and conflict should always be redemptive.
I find that in my work–chaplaincy within a social service context–there are many people that want me to concede that “all religions basically teach the same thing.” Their assumption is that I can provide the greatest comfort to those children and families I am working with if I simply take a generally universalist spiritual position. The trouble being, of course, that the faithful Jewish families aren’t comforted if I suggest that Judaism and Christianity aren’t really that different. And, what of the Baha’i family or the Buddhist? Will the decidedly Christian approach we take in a chapel service be as honoring as recognizing that there are distinct differences?
When differences are recognized and embraced, and in proper humility you place yourself as someone who would like to learn more about another’s tradition, bridges of diplomacy and relationship are built. I have considered it my Christian duty to make sure that, in a spirit of hospitality, each child and family have their spiritual and cultural traditions honored and celebrated in our midst. It is, I believe, the opposite of hospitality and grace to treat all traditions and expressions of faith the same with a sort of bland, beige-colored spirituality!
And, here’s the amazing thing…
When I am willing to light a few “small fires” (to borrow Dr. Paul’s imagery) to spark discussion and debate among staff, families, and children, people see that I am not threatened by the differences they have from me and will not threaten them to need to agree with me to be loved, accepted, and embraced in community. Setting the tone of mutual respect despite significant differences in matters of faith allows each one, in turn, to focus on relationship and what things we share in common.
It’s a beautiful thing to be able to tease and joke one another about the same religious differences that have other groups fighting each other about. It is a lot of fun to have the Jewish children, in particular, give me a hard time about some of the peculiar things about Christianity (like believing three and one can be equal? and… have you heard some of the crazy things Christians believe about Jesus?)!
