Guest Column: Faith shared

My recent summer alternative break trip to Philadelphia focusing on interfaith education and diversity has prompted me to work with the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.

Both experiences have given me the opportunity to develop a deep understanding of the religious worlds I have encountered thus far and to appreciate the differences as well as the common spiritual foundation among those religions, including my own.

We live in a very secular society yet, paradoxically, it is also a multi-religious one where the majority of the population embraces some sort of faith affiliation. For many of us, our faith is the defining element of who we are as individuals, of how we view the world around us and of how we relate to one another. We take our faith identity to be our guiding light in disconcerting and complex situations.

When we take a closer look at major world religions, we perceive the apparent major differences between them. We can attribute these differences to the context of their emergences in different times, societies and cultures throughout the history of human civilization. Differences in our religions and practices are important and valuable as they give us a sense of identity, but they should not be barriers to our common work of transforming the world into a more just, compassionate place. Each religion makes its own unique contribution and in its own way is pertinent to a group of people's understanding of life. The world needs them all.

Then why are there conflicts between religions? Maybe because we do not take time to listen, understand and respect other faith systems. Maybe because we overlook the similarities between religions and our common concern for the well-being of humankind. All religions teach us to value life, to refrain from harming others and to renounce selfishness; all religions teach us to tell the truth and not to steal; all religions teach us personal transformation is possible through spiritual enlightenment. In essence, all religions are there to make us better human beings "in thought, word and deed." In other words, all religions share a common ground for compassion, honesty and peace.

In today's increasingly interdependent world, we are constantly interacting with different perspectives and belief systems — we can draw strength from our diversity. When we are in a multi-religious community, stimulating a religious dialogue that expresses mutual respect and understanding is crucial in facilitating a process that builds solidarity. I urge the followers of different religions to put aside their differences, to listen to the message of religious pluralism, to engage in interfaith dialogue and to seek common ground.

My recent involvement with the IFCMW gives me the opportunity to welcome you all to the Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues on Aug. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. These dinner dialogues provide an exciting opportunity for people to meet others of various faith traditions over a free dinner to share their experiences in a safe and controlled environment. This is for developing conversation among people of different religions living in our community in hopes of fostering ongoing relationships.

Krishna Amin is an undergraduate biochemistry major. For more information, contact krish121 at umd dot edu.