What If We Were All the Same?

What if we all looked exactly the same- same hair, same clothes, same house? Or thought exactly
the same, had the same interests and cheered for the same team? What would our world be?
Different really is better.

It is true that the Church has been exclusive in some of its teachings, and it is also true that the
Church is trying to modernize and rebuild its reputation amongst those who have been
historically marginalized. Believe it or not, the Catholic Church is trying to find its way in a
progressive society and make sure that there is room for inclusion and diversity. For example,
Pope Francis has said he supported civil unions for same-sex couples within the Church, which
gives them the same rights and protections as a traditional heterosexual marriage would (see the
2020 documentary film entitled Francesco).

It might surprise you to know that inclusion is fundamentally biblical and central to the Gospel.
“We are the body of Christ, and each one of us is a part of it,” wrote Paul to the Corinthians (1
Corinthians 12:27). As a part of the body, we all have responsibilities — responsibilities to
respect and support all of the other parts, no matter how different they may be from us. Pope
Francis wants to create a more accepting Church, just as Jesus was accepting of everyone during
his time, even those who were considered sinners.

Your Task

Watch Evie Buckman’s 9:00 minute TEDx Youth Talk, What If We Were All the Same and then
write a reflection, using the following questions as a guideline.

1. What makes you unique? How do you want others to treat you?
2. What is diversity? What does it mean to you? What is inclusion? What does it mean
to you?

3. How do we treat people who don’t look like us—have different skin colors; are taller,
thinner, or heavier; have braces or glasses; use a wheelchair, or a cane to walk; have
wrinkles; are older, younger, deaf, or blind?

4. What are the long term consequences if we ignore diversity and inclusion?
5. Do you think it is positive or negative that everyone in the world is different? Why?
6. How can religion be a negative influence or a positive influence on inclusivity?

Submit your reflection on Teams- it will be graded, but it’s just a formative mark- to help you
practice submitting your work online, and to help you understand my expectations going
forward.