An atheist and a Muslim go to a church ...

An atheist and a Muslim go to a church ...

"Did you trust?" Peter stumbled across an answer. "I'm sorry?" "Do you trust?" The priest repeated soberly. Peter stopped loading his plate with cucumber sandwiches. "Um, yes," he produced before he flapped softly and did not go into it.

The question, as harmless as it was, came unexpectedly. We had enjoyed a relaxed day at his friend's summer wedding in the beautiful English landscape and did not expect to share our religious belonging with the service manager in the buffet.

Both Peter and I have difficult relationships with religion. He was brought up as a methodist Christian, but became atheist in early twenty. And I ... Well, I was born as a Muslim, what kind of girl who always wanted to see the world and never wanted to marry ... was problematic.

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When a local Samoan family invited us to their Catholic Church for the Sunday service, we both took a break. It was a great opportunity to learn something about Samoan culture, but we were not sure whether our participation was appropriate.

As on the keyword, Lena said our host: "Don't worry if you are not Catholic. We welcome everyone to our church." Then he added with a smile: "Then there is a free lunch."

After our British reluctance was eliminated, we accepted the invitation. After breakfast I searched my backpack for something chic to put on. I always pack a conservative outfit for such occasions, so I put on a few capri pants and a white cardigan, which happened to be the color of the community. We packed in Lenas van and off we went.

When the service started, I felt how Peter moved next to me. For me it was an enchanting cultural experience; For him it was also a memory of childhood and the resulting confusion about his faith. The language may have been different, but the mood was the same.

Later, when he recognized the father's cadence, I saw how he had a say in English and agreed with the spotting “amen”. I guess some things are more permanent than we think.

I watched silently how members of the community knelt down, crossed, prayed and sang. Once our normally lively and extremely confident hosts ran tears on the face.

It reminded me that, despite all its evils, religion also brings comfort and consolation to a large part of the world's population. In a world over -saturated by media it is easy to believe that religion is the root of the problems of the world; that it causes division and hatred, but I did not feel a split and I didn't feel hate in this church that was so warmly welcomed.

When I listened to the songs, my thoughts hiked. If I could stand by side with people in this tiny village in the deep -religious Samoa side who represented others than I do, the rest of the world might catch up one day.

And then I stopped being sentimental and got ready for our lunch festival ...

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