Connecting with other people and cultures can help you develop a broader outlook on life and to understand yourself. We spoke to BU's Reverend Ruth Wells about her thoughts on respecting difference, how it impacts her life, and contributes positively to those around her.
One of the joys of my role as Senior Chaplain is being able to meet and chat to such a range of different people. I find it interesting that sometimes I encounter people external to the ‘faith and reflection’ service who seem to assume all people of faith are one homogenous group, or that as religious folks we all know lots about each other’s traditions. In fact, much of what happens in the work I am involved in is about learning from difference.
I love that I am able to ask my Muslim friends about what it means for them to fast during Ramadan, or to hear from Pagan/Witchcraft friends about practices which enrich their sense of spirituality, or reflect on working for the common good with humanist colleagues. I don’t know about you, but for me, sometimes I find the news in the world painful, overwhelming and the source of despair. I often don’t know what to do with that. So, my work, which involves being deeply embed in community and seeking to explore the richness difference can bring, is an antidote to some of that.
‘Respecting Differences’ could be a line from a well-meaning, but potentially clinical, entry to a mandatory training module not many people are keen on! For me though, the reality of respecting different cultures and beliefs is not about some kind of austere posture, but rather about curiosity.
Learning from others helps me to reflect on those things I hold dear – helps to clarify my sense of self and deepens my own connection to my faith tradition. I love that learning from others isn’t an exercise in combative attempts at trying to persuade each other who is ‘right’, but is a chance to bring into focus that which we hold to and explore their multifaceted layers in the light of experience and dialogue. It is fun lots of the time, it deepens my understanding of the world – it brings friendship, kindred spirits and a recognition of the beautiful diversity of what it means to be human. We know we’re all different, that’s not news(!), but bumping into and alongside difference, day-to-day – being open to learning from it, from one another – and choosing to have open hearts and minds is, I think, an enriching way to live.
I want to finish with a quote form a student who accesses the ‘faith and reflection’ service – it highlights in a few words what I have tried to say in a few more!;
“There’s nothing quite like faith and reflection; it’s kinda faithy and reflectiony! Nobody fits in, yet that’s precisely the reason why everyone fits in.”
BU’s Faith and Reflection Centre
You may not be aware, but here at BU we have a team of chaplains and faith advisers who offer confidential and non-judgemental support, guidance, prayer and a listening ear, regardless of whether you have faith or not. Our Faith & Reflection Centre is located on the first floor of Talbot House on Talbot Campus and is open during term time, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm. Find out more about our team and what the space might be able to offer you.
