By Vanette Colmenares
Education of the other, tolerance in what the other is and indulging on the similarities rather than differences should be the direction to have some sort of reconciliation and harmony.
(Editor’s Note: Vanette Colmenares is a blogger of OSM! Online Magazine and pursuing her Doctoral Ministry at the Unification Theological Seminary. This is an excerpt of her speech on the Zoom forum Peace Amidst Diversity on July 14, 2021 sponsored by the UTS, the Universal Peace Federation, and the Filipino International Community of America.)
My family is so diversified in religious and political persuasion. I have two aunties who are atheists and another two who are ‘closed Catholics’. I do have cousins who are deeply passionate evangelicals. We have family members on the conservative side, and those on the liberal side of politics. So you can imagine the diversity of our thoughts and how our dynamics are when we are all together. That is why when we have family parties, the rule is – never talk about politics or religion. Now there is a new topic added to that list: no talking about health, esp. COVID-19 and vaccine.
When we take away that which we disagree on and instead talk of other things (and there are tons of other things), we become one as a family – strong and peaceful and happy.
So why am I saying this? What causes all the diverging thoughts and actions in this world? We are all unique and different such that our capacities of understanding are based on how we were raised, educated and our own life experiences.
For example, in the Philippines, I grew up fearing Muslims because my parents told me to stay away from them as they were hungry for blood.
But when I entered theological school, I hanged out with a Muslim and learned so much from her, that she became one of my closest friends. She is our third speaker for today.
Social Media is one platform that displays a lot of diversities and sometimes, it gets into our nerves.
When we read or listen to people who have ideas different from our own, it raises our concerns and sometimes engage to the point of rage. When one reaches this point, tolerance is important.
In delving into the reason for our differences, it is best that we do not judge and instead look into the other with fresh eyes.
As for my upbringing, the fear of Muslims was instilled in me.
I define fear as not the absence of courage but the absence of knowledge. Thus, when I came to know that Muslims are not what I was told that they were hungry for blood, I came to a place of understanding and accepting of who they were. Thanks to my Muslim classmate.
Education of the other, tolerance in what the other is and indulging on the similarities rather than differences should be the direction to have some sort of reconciliation and harmony.
Focus on the similarities, not the differences.
If we talk geographically, lets look at the Philippines which has about 7,000 small islands.
We are diverse in the sense that there are 187 dialects. Some speak Tagalog and others speak Bisaya (the most widely spoken), yet as a country we are considered as one. We are Filipinos.
The recent U.S. presidential election has caused diverse and polarized ideologies that have separated the people. Yet when faced with calamities such as the 9-11 or the collapse of a condo building in Florida, we become humans, sans politics and religion. We become one nation of compassionate human beings (when tragedy happens).
Religion is one of the most controversial matters that divides people apart, yet it is also religion that links us to the divine within us.
I would like to end with this story about a Christian who met the Dalai Lama in a theological seminar. It was supposed to be a trick question.
Brazilian theologian, Leonardo Boff wrote this, and I quote:
In a round table discussion about religion and freedom in which the Dalai Lama and myself were participating at recess, I maliciously and with interest, asked him: “Your holiness, what is the best religion?”
I thought he would say: “The Tibetan Buddhism” or “the oriental religions, much older than Christianity.”
The Dalai Lama paused, smiled, and looked me in the eye – which surprised me because I knew of the malice that was contained in my question.
He answered: “The best religion is the one that gets you closest to God. It is the one that makes you a better person.”
To get out of my embarrassment with such a wise answer, I asked: “What is it that makes me better?”
He responded:
“Whatever makes you more compassionate,
more sensible, more detached, more loving,
more humanitarian, more responsible, more ethical. The religion that will do that for you is the best religion.”
I was silent for a moment, marveling and even today thinking of his wise and irrefutable response:
“I am not interested, my friend, about your religion or if you are religious or not. What really is important to me is your behavior in front of your peers, family, work, community, and in front of the world. Remember, the universe is the echo of our actions and our thoughts.”
To answer the question is peace possible beyond beliefs, faiths and traditions? The answer is a resounding yes.
If peace is our choice, then we should attract that. If we give our attention into our intentions, it will have its manifestations. # (Featured photo: Vanette with Famidah Dirampaten, a friendship blooms in NYC).
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