Tolerance

I’ve agonized long and hard about what to write in a religious blog, but I keep coming up short. Although I was raised in a religious home, went to a religious school, and religion plays a major role in my life, I couldn’t think of anything to write about.
When I arrived at college this fall, I was unsure how religion would factor into my new life, but I was confident that I would manage. I knew that I wanted to be accepted for who I was as a person, not because I was raised in a specific culture, went to a particular type of school, or had certain religious beliefs. I wanted to blend in, to be like everyone else, and move on from there while still retaining my religious identity.
My experience at college these past few months has been eye-opening. For the most part, except for my writing seminar in religion, media, and performance, I’ve managed to keep my religious beliefs pretty private. My new friends are extremely tolerant of my lifestyle, from both a religious and a social perspective. In fact, they worry more about what I can and cannot eat, and when I can’t do certain things, than I do.
In religious circles, people are very quick to preach the message of tolerance. For me, in the secular culture of a university, it has been a refreshing and inspiring experience to see tolerance in action. I truly admire my new friends, respect their various cultures, and feel privileged to be part of their world, which is often so much different from my own.