This morning I turned on the radio to a report about an incident of racism at a prestigious state university.   While such news is always difficult to hear, it was not unusual to hear a story on the news of some form of hate and intolerance by one group at the expense of another.  In recent years, there have been enough stories of hate, divisiveness, and intolerance, especially with regard to young adults.  Fortunately, this morning was different. It also offered some hope.

This morning I attended the Interfaith Breakfast event sponsored by the University Interfaith Council at the University of Texas. I have been embraced by the UT community since my arrival to Texas nine years ago to work at St. Edward’s University.  I enjoy the opportunity to listen to college students share their stories and insights with regard to religious diversity.  It is the pay-off for a campus minister!

Today’s breakfast was one example in a week of experiences that demonstrated the power of community.  I just returned from three days with two of our St. Edward’s University students at the Interfaith Leadership Institute sponsored by the Interfaith Youth Core.  Students from over 30 institutions and traditions; Buddhist, Sikh, LDS, Catholic, Lutheran, Baha’i, Pagan, Secular Humanist and the list goes on, gathered to share about their faiths and to learn from each other. The desire is to bring people of all backgrounds together around the issues for which they share common concern.

Although the workshop topics were powerful, it was the lived experiences of the students that gave life to the weekend.  Within the first hour two students, a female chemistry student of the Muslim faith, and a male journalism student who was a Secular Humanist, illustrated their understanding of interfaith, by comparing it to the dependency of the carbon and oxygen elements in forming Carbon Dioxide.  The relationship of these two elements was much like our relationships and our natural dependence upon each other.  You had to be there!  The profound wisdom and creative openness of younger minds!

One group at the workshop adopted a song from the Broadway musical South Pacific, “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught,” illustrating that we are actually conditioned to hate.  It is not however, an inevitable condition.

What really stuck out to me however, were the informal times.  The women in our group, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, all decided to wear the hijab for our dinner excursion, partly to spark dialogue, to see how people reacted, and to just have some fun with each other.  It should be that simple!

Prior to our departure for the Institute, students at St. Edward’s gathered for an evening of training to serve as table hosts for a Red Bench series on campus that is being co-sponsored by Interfaith Action of Central Texas.  The Red Bench provides a forum for people of all backgrounds to enter into a safe space of dialogue, sharing, and even disagreeing on various topics.  These respectful but engaging encounters open space for community development.  Another example of the desire to build, rather than break down community!

As a Catholic, I am drawn to the life of Jesus and what he teaches us about community.   It is not so much his words, but his treatment of people that is so compelling. Pope Francis recently urged that dialogue “should help to build bridges connecting all people, in such a way that everyone can see in the other not an enemy, but a brother or sister.”  I am grateful that there are young adults who will be shaping a narrative of a world in which people of all creeds or no creed seek to develop a world of mutual interdependence.  There is HOPE!

written by Dr. James Puglisi, Associate Director Campus Ministry and Adjunct Professor at St. Edward’s University in Austin, a rugby player, and loves to salsa dance.