In a true facility of faith people are exposed to belief but cannot be forced to believe. In a facility of faith some proudly declare their values while others choose to remain vocally passive. In a facility of faith some find it difficult to share their convictions with their peers; while others desire to spread their convictions to anyone they come across. In a facility of faith there are those who find the concept of faith to be a dimension that does not apply to them at all. Most importantly in a true facility of faith no one should be looked down upon for lacking it and a stronger sense of how diverse our views are must be built.
No matter where one stands in this faith-centered community what remains true is the mottled nature of beliefs spread across the university. With that in mind it is critical to realize that even if an individual seems very similar to yourself everyone is a product of their own unique background and experiences— and consequently will more than likely have differing views on a number of issues.
Thus no matter how fervently dedicated one is to his or her faith an individual of genuine thought will remain conscious of such varied differences and most importantly will be wise in the approach of sharing his credence avoiding the risk of overpowering physical and verbal confrontations because of a mere preference of path.
Passion can compel people. As a result it is no surprise that many of the most violent outbreaks derive from religious rationalizations.
Sadly sincerity is often the driving force that brings many of these disagreements to a level of hostility. Many become justifiably frustrated because they truly feel their path is indeed the right path and thus they must be doing the right thing. Yet fundamental adherence to any cause at all can develop strife as one party seeks to tell another that they are in the wrong.
Remaining patient perceptive and receptive regarding another’s circumstances does not necessarily signify religious relativism so much as it displays an acute sense of how profound and realistic our differences can be. In a society that strives for mutual respect this should be sought after. In a facility of faith this should be the only route.
Faith is an element of not just reason but also experience. Even if one possesses the most intelligible ability to argue their view through solid historical evidence there remains the personal decision of whether one chooses to accept this path from within. Experience greatly influences how people dictate their paths. In fact the idea of an individual feeling drawn towards a certain faith yet gravitating to another path due to a highly impactful experience is much more common than we realize. Countless scenarios throughout the world each carry their own distinct personal development of faith a development that can only be understood by the actual individual who experienced it. If one’s outcome happens to be a passive outlook on faith all together on what grounds can we possibly say their journeys or perceptions are wrong? We must accept that the outcome is often due to the journey in itself. In a facility of faith these realities must not be forgotten.
For those who earnestly feel it is imperative to share their preferred path with others expose such conviction through tolerance and contemplation for everyone belongs to their own story. If you want to be a part of it forced measures are not the solution. If you believe an absolute right exists share your thoughts but remember to listen as well. In a facility of faith all that ought to be encouraged is a willingness to be open to discover how and why people prefer certain paths. Then and only then can one comfortably support the path they choose to take.