OUR VIEW: Make an effort to pursue religious tolerance

The Student Life section of Utah State Today highlights work written by the talented student journalists at Utah State University. Each week, the editor selects a story that has been published in The Utah Statesman or the Hard News Café, or both, for inclusion in Utah State Today.

 

Editorial, The Utah Statesman, published Wednesday, April 8, 2009

 

It is no secret the majority of those attending Utah State University belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it is for this reason that every student — including those who are not among the majority — must consciously pursue religious tolerance in their day-to-day lives.

 

Despite what some may think, religious tolerance is not forfeiting your beliefs; rather, it is the willingness to accept the reality that others have beliefs different from your own, in addition to becoming educated about the plethora of theological ideas that exist. A member of the LDS faith is no less devout for visiting a Catholic service, just as a member of the Jewish faith is no less devout for becoming educated about Islam.

 

The differences in all of us is what makes an educational institution like Utah State University so exciting. Instead of viewing fellow students’ beliefs as challenging your own beliefs, look at it as an educational opportunity. No one is asking you to convert to a different religion, but through openness and understanding the college experience can only be heightened.

 

There is a common belief that, where there is diversity, there will be prejudice and ignorance; and while this may be a sad reality, that should not stifle our efforts to move toward tolerance.

 

We encourage every student on campus to engage in religious tolerance. Instead of inviting a friend to visit your church, ask if you can visit theirs. When you hear a rumor about the belief of another religion, research the facts behind the rumor, instead of perpetuating potentially false information.

 

And most importantly, discourage others from being ignorant. You can be a devout member of your religious group and still open your mind to the idea of other beliefs.

 

However, these efforts will be meaningless if the mind set of those who can not accept religious diversity do not change.

 

Religious diversity is inevitable, but religious intolerance does not have to be.