Adam Seligman, professor of religion at the University of Boston & Research Associate at the Institute for the Study of Economic Culture, was the keynote speaker at the Discover Diversity Conference a the Coast Hotel Friday. Herald photo by David Rossiter

Dave Mabell
LETHBRIDGE HERALD
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Recognizing people's differences is the first step toward including them in a welcoming community.
But then, a Lethbridge audience heard Friday, it may be essential to get past personal discomfort. And to learn it's not important to understand all the differences.
Adam Seligman, professor of religion in Boston - and founder of an international institute fostering intercultural tolerance - was the closing speaker at the two-day Discover Diversity conference here. About 200 took part in the event, co-sponsored by the city, the University of Lethbridge and the Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination.
In the U.S., Seligman said religious, cultural and other differences are often hidden.
"We ignore it. We trivialize it."
So issues are not addressed, he said. And when there's a crisis, people look for scapegoats - people who are "different."
A visiting professor when civil war broke out 20 years ago in the former Yugoslavia, Seligman described how he and others returned there to start the annual institute, a two-week intercultural workshop for community leaders from many nations. During the first week, participants tend to focus on their commonalities.
But then they go to an unfamiliar place of worship, or meet people outside mainstream society in whatever nation they're visiting. Recently, he said, a group attended a large gay church in England.
"That was transformative," he said.
"People are forced to admit we're not all the same."
That's when they have to leave their comfort zone, and learn enough about others in their community that they can work together.
"We must be willing to live without ultimate understanding," he said - "to live with ambiguity."
That doesn't mean accepting everyone's beliefs or cultural practices, Seligman said. But to live together in a community, "we suspend judgement."
Responding to questions, he warned of the danger in trying to forge some kind of religious unity over-arching the world's faith groups. In the past, that's led to such human horrors as pogroms crusades and the Inquisition.
"And it stifles many voices."
Instead, individual and cultural differences should be valued and celebrated.
"I want you to recognize me for what makes me different, not for our similarities."
Bob Campbell, team leader for CMARD in Lethbridge, closed the event by praising participants for the "tremendous learnings" they've shared.
"I think we're at a place in our community where we can really start to move forward," he said. "The momentum is there."