Pew Forum results prompt various reactions

By Linda M. Linonis

It’s been said if you want to keep peace when family or friends gather, don’t talk politics or religion. But talking religion is no longer taboo in social or political realms.

Interfaith and ecumenical events, which draw people of different religious backgrounds, has brought about an important exchange of information.

The Pew Forum recently released findings of a survey conducted last year that reveals that most Americans don’t feel their religion is the only way to eternal life even if their religion teaches otherwise. The survey, of 35,000 adults, can be interpreted in two ways — that Americans are demonstrating growing religious tolerance, or a that they don’t know the fundamentals of their own faiths.

A sampling from the area reveals varying reactions and observations.

The Rev. Rusty Wills, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Poland, said he disagrees with the survey and its finding about the way to eternal life. And by doing so, he said he was standing up for Biblical interpretation. “The way to salvation is believing that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Jesus,” he said, realizing that concept excludes some non-Christian religions.

The Rev. Mr. Wills referred to John 18:37, which in part is a response from Jesus to Pilate, “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Mr. Wills, who described his church as evangelical (interpreting the Bible as the word of God), said, “There’s no other way to salvation, except for faith in Jesus and having a personal relationship with Jesus,” he said, as noted in the Bible.

“Standing up for one’s faith isn’t being intolerant of others,” he said. “We can love all people but disagree with their religion or lifestyle.”

The Rev. George Balasko, pastor of St. Ann Church in East Liverpool, said he wasn’t surprised about survey results on tolerance. “But I hope it’s because they’re more open to learning about and understanding other religions rather than not knowing enough about their own,” he said.

Father Balasko offered this example: “In the South, Catholics are in the minority. I think many have a deeper understanding of their faith because they’re asked about what they believe.”

But he said that doesn’t mean Catholics, who may be in the majority elsewhere, aren’t motivated to learn about their own faith and others. He’s involved in various adult education programs in the Diocese of Youngstown.

Father Balasko talked about a recent symposium in Switzerland at which Swiss Cardinal Georges Cottier, former theologian under Pope John Paul II, addressed the tolerance issue. Cardinal Cottier said, “We need full respect for other forms of knowledge, and other ways of belief. This is actually an intrinsic requirement of our theology.”

The Rev. Kenneth Simon, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Youngstown, said that “mindset” of multiple avenues to salvation has pervaded American thinking, so he’s not surprised a survey showed that result. “Based on my own faith beliefs, I demonstrate respect for other religions but I hold true to the Bible.”

The Rev. Mr. Simon said his church believes what the Bible teaches about salvation and heaven, and that is following Jesus’ examples and teachings. “Other denominations in the Christian faith share this,” he said.

Style of worship and doctrinal difference have divided people, Mr. Simon said. The belief that Jesus will lead believers to the Father is the common bond that unites Christians. “There is a respect for diversity,” he said, but he cautioned that “tolerance can be a scary word” when heresy and false teachings come into play.

Sister Nancy Dawson, general superior of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown and an adjunct instructor in the Religious Studies Department at Youngstown State University, said she believes education has led to religious tolerance. “When I’m teaching the religions of the world, there’s elements of truth in all of them. This has led young people, my students, and adults taking classes to have respect for other beliefs,” she said. Sister Nancy noted that though there are many names used, they all refer to a supreme being, God.

Sister Nancy said young people are especially motivated to experience different ethnic, cultural and religious situations.

The Rev. Doug Meek, pastor of Girard United Methodist Church, said of the findings, “I think it goes both ways.”

“We are a nation based on equality, freedom and tolerance,” he said. “Those are our fundamentals.”

“As Christians, we believe that Jesus is the way to salvation,” he said. “I think people are open to learning about or understanding other religions. And that helps them understand their own beliefs better.”

The Rev. Mr. Meek, who has been at the Girard church for seven years, said his congregation welcomes visitors of other faiths and is open to learning.

Shirley Megown, president of Church Women United, a group that promotes interfaith exchange, said participants have become more tolerant of other religions as they visit churches of other denominations and interact with women of different faiths. “But I think there’s a way to go,” she said.

She did agree with the survey in that tolerance has come about because people are uneducated about their faith. “I think many people don’t know the basic beliefs of their faith.”

“Christ came to bring all people together. Man made the distinctions and denominations,” said Megown, who has been involved with CWU for 12 years.