Religion is a universal attribute of human existence. Officially, atheistic nations haven't rooted it out, nor have economic, scientific, or educational advances diminished its presence. Religions may resist modernity and they may adapt to it, but they persist because they seem to give meaning and purpose to life, especially in times of crisis and uncertainty.

Sociologists, psychologists, biologists, and theologians have explored religion's resilience and offer interesting ideas as to why this is true. Two Christian theologians of ages past, Augustine and John Calvin, offer similar ideas that suggest that the religious impulse is innate to human existence. Augustine wrote that humankind is restless until it finds rest in God. Calvin borrowed from Cicero and spoke of a sensus divinitas (sense of divinity) that indwells us all and gives rise to the spiritual journey. How this works might be a matter of debate, but it is an intriguing idea.

In spite of their ubiquity, religious traditions, even ones that are similar, offer different answers and interpretations to our spiritual questions. For some, God is a personal being, while for others the divine and the material seem indistinguishable. Religious perspectives often appear to be contradictory and even mutually exclusive. Reincarnation, for instance, stands in striking contrast to resurrection, but since neither is subject to scientific validation, we must decide which makes the most sense on other grounds. As different as they are, the many religious traditions have similarities. It is these similarities that make conversation possible, but it is the differences that so often cause scandal that make the conversation both difficult and interesting.

September 11, 2001, made it imperative that we pay attention to the growing religious diversity in our midst. 9-11 awakened us to a diversity that had long been ignored. Not too long ago, religious pluralism could be summed up in the phrase “Protestant, Catholic, Jew,” and too often we act as if this continues to be true. Today, however, our community includes Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists, Sikhs, Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, Mormons, Jews, Wiccans, Bahai, Native American religions, and more. Mosques, temples, synagogues, and shrines are now joining churches in America's town squares where Protestant Christianity once dominated. We can debate whether this is good or not, but the reality of this diversity is not up for debate.

Interfaith dialog is risky. Getting to know and to understand other perspectives and traditions may change the way we understand God, humanity, and the universe. If we take up the task, we will have to balance our commitments to our own faith with the need to listen with respect and understanding to the views of others. Yet, this is the challenge of living out our national motto of e pluribus unum (“out of many, one”).

As one who is deeply committed to the tenets of the Christian faith, I have in recent years felt compelled to engage in interfaith conversation and activity. Maybe it is a matter of curiosity, or maybe it is because I believe that our fate as a planet depends on this conversation. Secularism may reign in Europe, but religion remains a significant force throughout the rest of the world. Ignoring religious pluralism will not make it go away.

Paul Tillich wrote that “religion is, first, an open hand to receive a gift and, second, an acting hand to distribute gifts.” We have received the gift of life from God (however we understand God). If we are true to this gift, then we must share it with others. We may not, nor should we, give up our distinctive beliefs, but it is important that we make every effort to understand and respect the beliefs and practices of our neighbors. Because they are different does not make them evil nor does it make them inherently good. Hopefully our conversations will bring out the best in all of us. Though living together in peace, with all of our particularities, may be difficult, it isn't impossible.

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As we consider this religion-filled world of ours, may we remember that true religion is not about the self, but is instead about serving the other. If we remember this, we can learn to live together in peace, and we will find a way to heal a broken world together.

Dr. Bob Cornwall is pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Lompoc (lompocdisciples.org). You may contact him at lompocdisciples@impulse.net or First Christian Church, P.O. Box 1056, Lompoc, CA 93438.

January 29, 2006