Currently, I'm a student at Brigham Young University. Every Tuesday morning at 11:00 AM, the University essentially shuts down and offers a devotional or forum for anyone--students, faculty, staff--who want to attend.
Today's forum was given by Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.
He's Jewish. He practices devoutly.
He titled his speech, "Faith in the Public Square."
The greatest factor of definition in the room was probably Lieberman's faith, as it was a topic he spoke on, in a setting where religion is infused into nearly every outlet available. He was different than we were. It was clear, but it wasn't offensive. Actually, it was almost a bridge by which we were able to understand him as a person, as well as a trait in ourselves which allowed us (or, I guess I should say me) to connect with his words and understand them.
After the lecture, the floor was opened for questions. One student asked Lieberman about the South and the tendencies of Southerners to practice Evangelical Christianity and, in some measure, to feel opposed to Mormons. I was glad he'd asked, because this was something I kindof had on my mind throughout the morning as Lieberman spoke.
Here's how I felt about it:
As I listened to Lieberman talk about his faith, and the way he practices it as he works as a United States senator, and as he spoke about the importance of keeping religion in the public square--of the significance of religion to the founders of this nation--of the distinction between freedom of religion and freedom from religion--
And as I realized how valuable that was, that meshing between Jew and Latter-day Saint...
I had the thought...
Wouldn't that be a good thing for us, if we could make that happen between faiths everywhere? If we could stop being so afraid of deception and conversion efforts and just...talk to each other?
Idealistic, yeah.
http://byutv.org/watch/event/c4640ed7-2175-445a-9e63-b0e1a1d2c9f2
