Overcoming fear with interfaith harmony

This past month, I have sought a reprieve from the contentious, abrasive, and heated dialog on social media. Many of the arguments stem from deeply held beliefs and the fear that our values, our faith, our very sense of self, are under attack. With the anonymity of the internet, efforts to empathize and understand different perspectives are clearly lacking. It is easy to dismiss the opinions and experiences of people who seem so different from ourselves. The dissonance and ugliness of many of these messages leave me feeling uneasy and agitated.

That’s why I was thrilled to discover the events for Anchorage’s second annual World Interfaith Harmony Week. This annual United Nations observance takes place the first week of February. World Interfaith Harmony Week was proposed to the UN by HM King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2010. The purpose is to build connections between people of all faiths, to highlight and coordinate the good work they do, and to increase love, peace and harmony in our communities.

The Interfaith Council of Anchorage coordinated World Interfaith Harmony Week with events hosted by a wide variety of groups from January 31-February 12. Events included services and sanctuary tours by Congregation Beth Sholom, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Islamic Community Center of Anchorage, The Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, The Anchorage Bahá’í Center, and The First Congregational Church. More than 50 people from different faiths gathered together to share hospitality, food, and traditions throughout the week.

Interfaith activities in our community provide opportunities to build on common beliefs. The Common Word initiative provides the foundation for Harmony Week. This initiative calls on Muslim and Christian leaders to engage in dialog based on the common fundamental commandments of loving God and loving neighbors. These two commandments are common to Christians, Jews, and Muslims. World Interfaith Harmony Week expands the Two Commandments, adding ‘Love of the Good, and Love of the Neighbor’ to include all people of goodwill.

By focusing on love and goodness, we can counter our fear and mistrust of others. When we spend time talking to and eating with people of other faiths, we make valuable connections. Face to face interaction is essential to develop empathy and shared experience. The simple acts of removing your shoes as you enter a sacred space, or sharing a meal or conversation help us connect to our divine nature and origin.

The prophet Mormon taught, “All things which are good cometh of God.” He further explained, “that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God” (Moroni 7:12-13). Goodness, love, and service build on common belief and experience.

Alternately, fear, anger, and contention are not motivated by God. Jesus Christ said, “he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but…that such things should be done away” (3 Nephi 11: 29-30).

God is pleased when we reach out in love and kindness to those around us, whether they believe as we do or not. We are to protect the freedoms of religious observance and expression for all people. The eleventh Article of Faith outlines Latter-day Saint belief regarding religious expression: “We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”

I believe that as we serve, worship, and spend time together, we can counter the effects of fear and anger. Musical harmony is the pleasant combination of different notes played simultaneously. Living in harmony requires an open heart and mind to recognize the positive influence of goodness wherever we may encounter it. World Interfaith Harmony Week helps us to tune in the melody of peace and kindness so we can hear and promote it throughout the year.

Amity Condie lives in Palmer and enjoys reading, writing, and skijoring with her dogs and family. She is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.