Tim Yaw’s letter about unity [“We can find unity, if we look,” Dec. 9] addresses the role religion plays in society as a solidifying force, but this is not a holistic claim of what unifies most of humanity.

To say that “unity comes from and through sovereign God,” and not at all from cultures, is ignoring all of the factors that can bring people together. Peace, conflict, work, leisure, likes, dislikes; anything has the ability to unite us.

Does faith truly create interconnectedness if it is dependent on our individual experiences and thus our personal interpretations of our beliefs? In fact, religion might actually do the opposite of unifying communities.

For example, some Christians believe that homosexuality is an unforgivable sin. This dislike toward a community can separate people because some think that obedience in traditional religious beliefs is virtuous. Homosexuals may engage in self-deception and not accept who they truly are, which does not promote the well-being of the community.

Yes, religion is an important aspect of culture. But it is more important to have a culture rich in “humanistic pride” to achieve people living in harmony. As a believer in God, I understand that His teachings have the capacity to bring people together, regardless of their prior beliefs. However, it is cultural diversity that actually unites us.

Society is unified through strong communication, open-mindedness and acceptance of the fact that not everyone will agree on faith, as trust is built on experience and reliability.

Anne Alejo, Winter Haven