America's First Freedom

My Cultural Exploration class had the unique opportunity to hear Ambassador Robert Seiple speak tonight. He currently heads and organization called America's First Freedom, which aims to create religious dialogue and religious acceptance in the United States.

Seiple spoke about religion and religious freedom in a way that made a huge amount of sense to me. He began his talk by talking about the face of religious freedom. Or rather, by talking about the fact that the issue of religious freedom has no face. Instead of being seen through the eyes of a person, issues of religious freedom are always seen through the eyes of the courts. Boring and not easy to relate to.

Seiple spoke about the idea that 95% of the world's problems take place at the crux of religion and politics, and yet we're told never to talk about either in polite company. In his words, though, there are many examples of "faith at its best overriding religion at its worst."

I could probably dedicate and entire blog to the thoughts of Robert Seiple. I have rarely met someone who I respected more. I would love the chance to work with him someday, just so that I could observe his thought process up close. However, instead of starting a Robert Seiple fan club, I will leave you with one final Seiple thought.

In America, we talk a lot about religious tolerance. Why? Tolerance does not solve problems, because you don't have to feel that you are on the same level as those who you tolerate. Instead of stopping at religious tolerance, we should strive to accept and then to respect.

What a novel idea.