At a recent All Party Parliamentary Interfaith Caucus meeting, I was intrigued to hear MPs recognize the importance of disagreements. In fact, they emphasized that within a healthy democracy disagreement is necessary. While the topic of the discussion was the threat of polarization in Canada, the goal was not to resolve disagreements. Rather, the aim was to keep disagreements healthy and prevent them from polarizing Canadian society.
This is an important conversation to be had. The meeting acknowledged that faith communities are often seen as potential sources of conflict. Yet, they are also an indispensable resource for society and could model healthy conflict.
Disagreement is an inevitable part of life. Because all creation is unique with varying tastes and preferences, it is impossible to expect uniformity or conformity.
For instance, dare I say that I do not like chocolate, while many others greatly enjoy the putrid flavour. I prefer Coke rather than Pepsi. But there are others who think differently.
Contrast is a gift of creation. The rich diversity of plants and animals, geography and climate are something to celebrate. The variety of species enhances the function and enjoyment of life and enriches our experiences.
As people of faith, disagreement is also a part of religious life. While practicing faith is often done with others, it is a deeply personal exercise. Because everyone is endowed with a unique soul, the spiritual experience of faith is also unique to everyone. Passion is a critical ingredient of faith. It celebrates emotions and nurtures devotion. But where there is passion, there will be disagreement – sometimes passionate disagreements.
I marvel at the way in which Jesus engaged with discord. It would be unfair to say that Jesus was passive in matters of conflict. On the contrary, disagreement was met with whit, offence and even anger. He called people hypocrites and even overturned tables of moneychangers. These are rather inflaming actions. So, what is the exemplary features of the way Jesus engaged with disagreement?
My faith background is Anabaptist Mennonite. This faith perspective places high value on community discernment- not as a way of avoiding disagreement – but rather, as an acknowledgment that individuals only experience a partial understanding of reality. A fuller comprehension is only developed as all the contrasting experiences are shared together in a community setting.
This is also true in obtaining an understanding of God. Our Creator is beyond the full understanding of any one person. The more differing experiences we hear, the fuller picture of God we will see. Disagreement then need not be a matter of conflict, rather it is another expression of the same reality. The more diverse voices we hear, the richer experience of awareness we can obtain. God’s love becomes even wider than we initially thought or imagined. God’s grace becomes even more profound than previously understood.
That is precisely the nature of disagreement displayed by Jesus. He understood a fuller and more complete understanding of God’s grace than that possessed by the religious order of the day. The frustration of Jesus was with the religious establishment, not with those who are yet to be reconciled to God.
Communities of faith should stand in disagreement with anything that serves to be a barrier to experiencing God. Our role is to model God’s embrace and love. Anything more is outside of our responsibility and ends up distorting God’s love.
I pray that the way in which communities of faith disagree reflects the belief that within the conflict of opinion lies a fuller understanding. It is the challenge of another point of view that offers a new perspective. Disagreement is the gift of insight. It forces another way of thinking through a debate/discussion.
Therefore, the task is not to remove disagreement. The task is to embrace the benefits of disagreement.
This summer as we experience the wonder of creation, in all its uniqueness, may it equip us to welcome differing opinions as another example of enriching diversity.