Yaoli: We Are All One God

June 30, 2009

Here as in the States, getting to know someone begins with the gathering of some basic information: first name, last name, ethnicity, age, hometown… However, another common inquiry for Tanzanians not found at home is religious affiliation. Founded on the bedrock of liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness, America have had an distrust of religious institutions for centuries. Waves of immigrants, starting with the Puritans, journeyed to the New World to escape the snarls of persecution. They vow to separate religion and state. Rhode Island became a model state for tolerance of all beliefs.

But rather than complete acceptance, modern America has chosen the path of avoidance. Although we haven’t gone as far as the French to ban all discussion of religion in the educational system, our culture nevertheless shrouds religion in a veil of silence. One’s religious affiliation is not something shared along with one’s name. Extremist groups such as polygamist Mormons, Al-Qaeda Muslims and fanatic evangelical Christians give religion a reputation of being conservative, orthodox, and discriminatory.

While some stereotypes against Christianity are indeed unfair, I cannot deny that Christians can be prejudiced. How can I treat other religions equally when my church tells me Jesus Christ is the absolute savior and that accepting him is the only path to heaven? The perspective is resolute and rigid… no room for compromise or discussion. You either believe in Him or you don’t.

So imagine my surprise when I was asked over and over again “what religion?” “what denomination?” And Sanaa? “Ah, Muslim, yes, we are all one God.” They accept it with such ease, they talk about it so openly. They tell me, “we do not want strife. There are more than 120 tribal groups in Tanzania. We cannot afford to fight. So we say, we are all brothers.” We eat lunch daily at the Parish and we all take turns praying, in English, Swahili, and Arabic. People here are far more devoted to their faith than Americans: they go to service every Sunday, make tides to their local church, send their children to confirmation school… Yet paradoxically, they are also some of the most tolerant people I have ever met.