A Statement of Affirmation for People of Faith

Can we
  • celebrate our similarities
  • accept our differences
…looking instead to what our unique experiences reveal to us about God?
 
Will we
  • acknowledge the authenticity of others’ experience of God
  • celebrate our own traditions
…embracing the diversity of God’s presence in creation?
 
Do we
  • resist oppression and hatred
  • seek God in the people we meet
…becoming the hands of God in action?

Several years ago, I invited a number of people from different faith traditions to share their thoughts on what a statement would look like that encapsulated not only the diversity of God’s presence, but also what that means in recognizing the innate value of each of us as individuals.

The above Affirmation was the result.

More than a decade has passed since then and I have yet to find a more succinct yet challenging expression of how I feel called to live my faith.

I hope that you will find it worth passing along (you can use the social media buttons below), or even take a moment to comment.

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Comments

A Statement of Affirmation for People of Faith6 Comments

  1. Did you say 10 years?
    David , this should be printed and put on the front of every binder that we use in the church. It should hang on our walls in our homes and our workspace.And dare I say, that before we make descisions in families, churches, synagogues and mosques ,governments and international policy, we should read it and become the hands of God in Action. It is only our hands that will make a difference. Think if everyone's hands were involved, what the world would be like. I love it.. let's not bury this affirmation .

    • Thanks for that endorsement.

      I'd love to see this become more widely known. For that to happen, people need to be the "hands in action" (pardon the pun) and pass it along. Email it to a friend, provide the link in WC and other places; put the link in a church bulletin; print it out and offer it to people.

      Maybe your comment will help encourage people to do so.
      David

  2. Yes, I can agree with this Statement of Affirmation of People of Faith.

    I do see a possible conflict between “accepting our differences” and “resisting oppression and hatred”.

    Perhaps the Gandhi non-violence solution is the way to go here?

    • I'm not sure I'd agree that there's "conflict" so much as the need to reflect on which element takes precedence in a specific situation.

      I would definitely affirm non-violence, while recognizing that there are times when resisting or confronting hatred and oppression is not possible without conflict.

      Good perspective.
      Thanks
      David

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