COUNCIL of Faiths, Faith Forum, Roundtable of Religions; and many more variations on the theme. What do our names mean? What are they for? Who are they aimed at?
All across the country groups go by different names, but try to achieve one thing – a society where people are free to worship, or not worship, as they wish. There is only one condition: that all other people are allowed the same freedom.
How do our groups try to achieve this? Some seem to find a highly intellectual approach is helpful, others want to be practical.
One might have a discussion of what is meant by ‘freedom’; another might share food and friendship.
A successful means of helping people understand each other was to have an audience question a panel about their different faith traditions’ rituals when someone is dying, when they have died.
Another way is Oxford’s annual Friendship Walk from Synagogue to Mosque, pausing for prayer on the way, carrying coloured balloons, chatting, discussing, sharing a meal at the walk’s end.
Through coming to know each other we learn to live with each other – our aim, whatever name we give ourselves.
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