Seeking unity

COEUR d’ALENE — Outside Community United Methodist Church, banners proclaim that all are welcome.

“Some interpret those banners as a political statement but in truth, they are a theological statement,” said the Rev. Amanda Nicol.

Her faith compels her to be “more than just tolerant and fair.”

“My faith compels me to be radically hospitable in the way that God is radically hospitable,” she said.

Nicol was one of three speakers who addressed about 35 people Thursday night in the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Community Room, speaking about religious freedom and tolerance in the community.

The hourlong program was presented by Interfaith CDA.

Matt Latimer with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Venerable Thubten Semkye with Sravasti Abbey shared commonalities calling for kindness, love, generosity and respect for those may believe differently.

Each expressed the need to accept and welcome all.

“All of us have religious beliefs even if you’re not religious,” Latimer said

He said strife comes about between those with strong beliefs and those who have lifestyles that contrast with those beliefs.

“The question is, how do we make it work?” he said.

He recommended taking someone to dinner that you disagree with, or having them over to your house. You still may not agree on things, but you might find you like each other and can work together.

He said protecting core beliefs is important, but so is compromise.

“If there can’t be one inch of compromise in anything, then you might as well give up," he said.

Thubten Semkye said everyone, without exception, wants to be happy and not suffer. But people seek their happiness in different ways.

Still, unity can be found.

"Everybody is attracted to kindness. Everybody is attracted to friendliness," she said.

Thubten Semkye said the pleasures of the world are wonderful, but they come and go. Money and power are not the answers to a joyous life.

“They’re worthwhile. But they're fleeting. They don’t last," she said.

Inner happiness is more stable and enduring, she said, citing growth in kindness, patience and forgiveness as a path to peace.

Nicol said building relationships with people "who believe differently than ourselves can contribute, I believe, to the flourishing of our own faith. When we seek to understand what others believe we’re also challenged to get clearer on what we believe.”

Nicol said she has been inspired by those of other faiths, including a time her own prayer life was stagnant.

"Who knew it was my Muslim neighbors who would give me the jumpstart that I needed to refresh my own Christian devotional practice?" she said.

If she has learned one thing, Nicol said it is to be humble — and that takes courage.

"Humility is the soil in which mutual relationships can grow,” she said.