ONE COMMUNITY, MULTIPLE RELIGIONS?

We are aware that this new House could become a dysfunctional family, but we are willing to take the risk because the blessings for us all can be far-reaching and long-lasting.  Currently we are developing a very first draft of “House Rule,” not to be confused with the beliefs, mission, or vision of an organization. We will keep revising House Rule over months and years to come.  Input from many more people will be needed. Here is a draft:

1.    In isolation, my religion does not make sense.

2.    I assume that God is in “the other” too, not in an exclusive possession of my group.

3.    The first order of living in a community is humility.  We don’t know, therefore we believe.

4.    We will not shy away from our differences, but learn from them, each one of us seeking blessing in new knowledge about God.

5.    I will be flexible with language as together we learn to communicate about God.

6.    Faith House exists to bless the neighborhood.  Our best energies will be spent helping the poor, struggling for peace, and advocating for justice.

7.    My religion is not threatened by coexisting with others. I embrace my religion even if it does not rule supreme.  As a minority, I have an opportunity to serve.

8.    I will value my religion by the good it brings to its non-adherents.

9.    I am a brother or a sister to everyone in the Faith House.  We are human family sharing a life bond established by God.  This sacred bond is greater and stronger than the differences of our religious convictions.

10.    In this house, to be a learner is a greater calling than being a teacher.

11.    Together, we will enjoy our friendships, holidays, and accomplishments.  Together, we will grieve over our enmities, conflicts, and losses.

12.    We will not seek to establish one generic religion in the house.  Instead, we will seek to establish one humanity that serves one God with many voices.

We believe that this experiment, even if unsuccessful, will bring blessing and wisdom to those who seek a better world, a better religion for our children, and a deeper communion with God.

When we walk off the maps, we leave outcomes to God. We are not even in a position to judge a good outcome from a bad outcome because we can’t see the significance of our actions in the whole story.  Only God sees from the beginning to the end. That’s why, in this process, we are not attached to results but to right intention and to right action. 

An apparent failure might be a necessary precondition for an eventual success.  For such a success to happen, someone must take the fall.  If we fail, we pray that those who come after us will succeed.  Then, our failure will become a success too.  Perhaps the only fights worth fighting are those we lose, because for good dreams to prevail in this world, some people may need first to lose so those that follow can be victorious.