Berkley Center

While London may not be considered one of the religious centers of the world in the same way as Mecca or Jerusalem, London is one of the most diverse cities when it comes to ethnicity, nationality, and religion. Although it has many of the same problems as other major cities, it is remarkable that there is not more conflict given the close proximity of so many different religious groups. Historic conflicts between Jews and Muslims, Muslims and Hindus, and Protestants and Catholics do not seem to be a significant problem here. I find this surprising because in other parts of the world, a person may judge another solely on his or her religion, but in London, they pass each other on the streets every day without conflict; they buy from each other’s shops without suspicion.

Why are differences ignored here when they are so hard to overlook in other parts of the world? Perhaps it is because most of the communities mentioned have, at one point or another, immigrated to London. Whether for political or economic reasons, I believe that most immigrants are grateful for the opportunities they have in London and are willing to put aside differences in pursuit of a better life. Assimilating to English culture includes accepting a degree of tolerance. In other parts of the world, the concept of tolerance is not an accepted part of culture. That is not to say that all English people are tolerant; in fact historically they have done their fair share of persecuting. But as an ideal, tolerance is valued and other cultures are accepted. Perhaps my experience has been colored by my particular environment.

As a student at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), which enrolls students from over 100 countries, I have found a high degree of open-mindedness and tolerance. In fact, there is a running joke among SOAS students that the school makes you “racist” because the school is so culturally sensitive and politically correct that whatever you say will inevitably be offensive. While this is a slight exaggeration, I have found London to be a very welcoming city for people of all faiths and races. I think that when people come to London, the acceptance they feel affects the way they view others.

Although many people seek to retain aspects of their own culture, I sense that most people that move to London want to be considered a Londoner, and part of accepting that cosmopolitan persona is embracing, or at least tolerating, people of foreign cultures. In many cases, this means that people of historically different and sometimes conflicting religions show a level of mutual respect that is not present in their home cultures. Despite the fact that assimilation must occur to a degree, I believe that London is a haven for people of all religions who wish to continue practicing their faiths without religion being political. The result is that people of completely different religions interact with each other every day without political conflict. The fact that two people, for example a Shi'ite and a Sunni, who might clash in another country, show respect for one another in a completely different geographic location strikes me as an interesting phenomenon. It is, perhaps, one of the things I most appreciate about living in London.