Our Stories, Their Stories

Stories play an important role in shaping who we are as people and as a community.

Think of your own childhood stories -- stories of adventure, comedy, or drama.
Think of family stories that have been told again and again. They may be stories of coming to a new land or watching others come to your home land. They may be tales of aunts, uncles, or cousins who did brave, stupid, or funny things. They may be family folklore about people who did great things.
Think of stories in your town which create memories and history. They may be simple tales of fishing in the local creek, a rags-to-riches story, or legends of battles.

In our own faith, we read the Bible -- a book of stories, songs, and lessons B which guide us to becoming better Christians.

Jesus tells many stories in the form of "parables." From these stories, we gain a better understanding of ourselves and our faith, the lessons of Christ, and God's will for our lives.

Likewise, every faith has stories that teach lessons, help people through struggles, and assist them in finding truth in their faith. Believers have people who influence them, help them, and lead them.

To create an interfaith community and world -- one where peace and justice are our goals -- we need to learn to listen to the stories of others.

By listening and respecting the stories of people from our faith and other faiths, we begin to understand our neighbors, what shapes them, and who they are. We can:

learn about other faiths, and be challenged to learn about our own better,
find out about the similarities and differences of our faiths,
dispel myths about other faiths that are often told by the media and others,
work together for peace and justice around the world.