What Oprah Taught Me About Interfaith
Having just returned from an exhausting and exhilarating experience at the Atlanta Interfaith Leadership Institute (ILI) last week, I have tried to be as intentional as possible in taking time to reflect on my experiences. Hearing from IFYC staff and participants alike, I could not help but be moved by the entirety of the experience, specifically the unique and sacred space we created for each other. This was possible, in my opinion, because of the openness, energy, and willingness to be vulnerable by all who were present.
My favorite part of ILIs is the potential they have to create a space where people feel comfortable bringing their whole identity to the table. A number of people told me that they felt like they could totally be themselves. Caught up in the moment, this might not seem like that big of a deal, but the more I think about it - this is HUGE!
Religion is one of the taboo topics that people are told to never talk about at the dinner table. Why are we so scared to talk about something that gets us to the very core of our being? I do know that by not talking about religion and spirituality, we are shutting off parts of who we are, regardless of what we believe.
A few weeks ago I was channel-surfing and stopped to watch a rerun of the Oprah Winfrey Show (don’t judge!) for a few minutes. The episode I was watching turned out to be her last show. Oprah was offering reflections on her twenty-five or so years on the air, and then said something that really struck a chord with me.
Oprah told her audience that she has “talked to nearly 30,000 people on this show, and all 30,000 had one thing in common: They all wanted validation. If I could reach through this television and sit on your sofa or sit on a stool in your kitchen right now, I would tell you that every single person you will ever meet shares that common desire. They want to know: Do you see me? Do you hear me? Does what I say mean anything to you?”
I thought this reflection was simple, yet still quite profound. Isn’t this what we are all looking for - a space to be validated for who we are, and to be authentically heard by other people, even if they disagree with us?
I believe that when interfaith work is done well, it really allows people to be heard and validated in their religious or non-religious identities. The attendees of the ILI helped create an environment where this happened. My hope is that more spaces like this can be cultivated, so people can feel comfortable sharing who they are at their deepest levels.
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