Although Christianity is the dominant religion in Columbia, a closer look reveals diverse places of worship, including the Islamic mosque, Hindu temple and Unitarian church.

A liberal oasis in what is traditionally known as a swing state, Columbia has been open-minded when it comes to religious beliefs.

“Historically, Columbia is a better place to live,” Rashed Nizam said. “People are more open, more tolerant.”

Nizam, chairman of the education board for the Islamic School of Columbia-Missouri, considers the community welcoming to new places of worship, especially those serving smaller groups. Part of the support, he said, derives from education about the different religions in the area. “We’ve been invited to different places, done programs in different Christian churches," he said. "Our job is to educate people and minimize the distance and differences.”

Of the people in Boone County who claim a religious denomination, 95 percent are Protestant or Catholic, according to a 2000 study by the Association of Religion Data Archives. However, there are 2,872 people who belong to denominations other than Christianity.

One of them, the Islamic Center of Central Missouri, attempts to bridge the gap between the different religions in the community by promoting conversation through lectures and programs.

The center, which was completed in 1983, hosts 350 to 400 people at its Friday noon congregation prayer, the one time when everyone is obligated to pray. Several MU students began building the center in 1981 because there was no mosque in the area. There were no mosques in Kansas City or St. Louis, either, and the space they had rented for prayer was not working. Two of the students took two years off from their studies to get funding to build the center. They found the spot on the corner of Fifth and Locust streets where it is currently located.

“They had a firm belief that God would help,” Nizam said of the students who established the mosque. They asked Muslims around the world for donations to help pay for the design of the building in addition to start up costs. Nizam said some of the donors were unexpected, but all donors wanted to remain anonymous, so they would not be publicly praised for their contribution.

The act of charity, like the financial contributions to the Islamic Center more than two decades ago, is a central tenet of the faith.

Local Hindus are also active with local charities. Shanthi Mandir, the local Hindu temple, brings in packaged food for the Central Missouri Food Bank in addition to working with the elderly and collecting phones, towels and other necessities for the women’s shelter.

Vellore Gopalratnam, president of the executive board at Shanthi Mandir, takes pride in the temple’s involvement in the community. One benefit of getting involved is that more people become educated about the Hindu faith.

“There’s a lot more awareness in the community,” Gopalratnam said. “A lot of people get a very stereotypical vision of what Hinduism is all about.” He said awareness has helped dispel stereotypes derived from “Indiana Jones” movies and snake charmers.

Shanthi Mandir, which was established in September 2005, was initially funded by 12 families. Before the temple was built, local Hindus congregated at residences around the city. Eventually, the homes could not provide enough space to serve the number of members, so they began looking for a new location to hold their activities.

The name Shanthi Mandir means “temple of peace,” which suggests the peaceful nature of Hindu life. One of its major concepts rejects the idea of a separation between the religious part and the secular part of one’s life. Rather, Hinduism is a way of life, offering a fluidity in the religion.

Hinduism, unlike many mainstream religions, is not structured, Gopalratnam said. “It’s like the Internet, where there’s no single authority, but there’s a broad set of common beliefs.”

The temple, which serves about 150 families who attend regularly, has outgrown its location at 2006 Holly Ave. in just more than two years. Members are looking at options for expanding or moving elsewhere.

Another place of worship, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, has also seen growth in its congregation over the years. The church’s third reverend, William Haney, calls it a “manageable growth.”

Originally created in 1951, the Unitarian Universalist Church acquired its current property at 2615 Shepard Blvd. in 1970 and added another wing to the church in 1998. Today, the church has 240 members.

Haney said the growth has been helped by an influx of people who might not have been satisfied with their religion of origin. These people, he said, are seeking their own pathway to ethical values.

He said the concept of free religion attracts many followers. Because Unitarianism, a smaller sect of Christianity that rejects the theory of the Trinity, does not have a doctrine or creed, its followers feel free to find and make their own values.

“What binds the church together is a covenant, a promise we make to each other to pursue our religious values together,” Haney said.

The religious freedom, however, has been criticized, particularly by other Christian denominations. Because the religion is not “fettered by dogma or doctrine,” some people view Unitarianism as a “cafeteria–type religion,” Haney said. He said the term suggests that people can believe anything they want and can pick and choose from the writings of the Bible.

Stereotypes and bias against religions such as these stem from the lack of education or knowledge about the religions themselves, Nizam said. However, during a time when many Muslims were being persecuted because of the Sept. 11 tragedies, the Muslim community in Columbia received support from the greater community.

“People showed their love and friendship,” he said. “We saw that people expressed solidarity to the Muslim community. We are very welcomed.”

Haney said he has also felt the same openness in Columbia. “We are just as welcome as any other congregation.”

Gopalratnam expressed similar sentiments about the warmth of the community contributing to the success of the temple. The community support has helped build a foundation for all faiths to flourish, especially during times of prejudice. “When your roots are firm, you don’t get swayed.”