Social Justice - Interfaith Dialogue
Suggestions for actions with Muslim Neighbours and Resources
for Interfaith Understanding and Engagement
Many congregations have expressed interest in exploring issues in interfaith relationships and dialogue following the tragedy on September 11th in the USA. Bruce Gregersen, Secretary for Interfaith Education and Dialogue within the Division of World Outreach can be contacted for information and advice at or 416-231-7680 ext. 5171.
Information about Islam and Muslim Christian relations.
This document provides a short introduction to Islam. It offers a respectful and accurate summary of the basic beliefs of Muslims.
“Striving Together in Dialogue” http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/interreligious/striving-e.html is published by the World Council of Churches and other partners, including Islamic organizations. It is a joint call of both Muslims and Christians to reflection and action and is an appropriate resource for study either
by churches alone or in dialogue with Muslim neighbours.
Suggestions for action with Muslim Neighbours.
Throughout North America, Muslims have experienced significant backlash from the inappropriate identification of Islam and terrorism. Recently the Religion Newswriters Association advised against the use of the term “Islamic terrorist” or similar terms that associate an entire religion with the actions of a few. Maintaining a watchful and critical view of media reports is important, and so is challenging those reports when such terms are used. Muslim organizations such as CAIR – the Council of American Islamic Relations http://www.cair-net.org – attempt to monitor and address these stereotypes. An important act of solidarity with Muslim neighbours is for people of all faiths to challenge news reports that use inappropriate terms. Letters to the editor, or calls to TV stations do make a difference. Terrorist acts involve a complex mixture of cultural, religious, nationalistic, economic and psychological motives, advises the RNA, and therefore it is important to be very cautious in attempting to describe the motives of terrorists.
There have been a number of reports of Muslim and people of Middle Eastern/ Asian descent experiencing unfair treatment based on physical impressions alone. This has included a number of situations in which people have been removed from airline flights because of their dress or nationality. IslamiCity, an Islamic information agency, says that Muslims certainly understand the need for increased security but treatment such as this is unacceptable. Acts of solidarity with Muslims in these kinds of situations are important and welcome. These can include letters to organizations and individuals involved and speaking up directly in support of Muslim neighbours when this kind of racial profiling is seen.
Throughout Canada, mosques and Islamic Centres have welcomed expressions of support and concern from neighbouring churches and people. Simple acts of calling to express concern, leaving a note, or visits are usually most welcome. Be careful and considerate about expectations. There are many more churches than mosques and some have many requests for hosting confirmation classes and other visits. The priority needs to be on building long term respectful relationships not on meeting the needs of congregational programs for interfaith experiences.
RESOURCES FOR MULTIFAITH UNDERSTANDING:
The following organisations are helpful sources of information about interfaith programming and materials.
CONEXUS MULTIFAITH MEDIA CENTER distributes resources that support inter-religious understanding and cooperation. Materials that are particularly useful in this context include: Sourcebook of the World's Religions: An Interfaith Guide to Religion and Spirituality; All in Good Faith: A Resource Book for Multifaith Prayer; The 2002 Multifaith Calendar; the Golden Rules Poster (versions from 13 religions), and the Multifaith Information Manual, which was designed for use in institutions such as hospitals, professional training schools, and prisons. For detailed information on these and other media, or to place an order.
Visit: www.conexuspress.com
COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS (CAIR), a prominent Washington-based Islamic advocacy group, works to protect the human rights of Muslims and to provide appropriate
information about Islam. They also provide frequent news releases pertinent to the seven million Muslims in North America.
Visit http://www.cair-net.org
HUMANITARIAN RESOURCE INSTITUTE (HRI) offers a web site that serves as a hub of news, links, and emergency and relief information, especially for use by religious and civic organizations. Visit http://www.humanitarian.net Also visit HRI's new Interfaith News Network for its coverage of
the World Trade Center Terrorist Incident, at: http://www.humanitarian.net/interfaith/tradecenter
TEMPLE OF UNDERSTANDING provides educational programs, conferences and interfaith services for the NY region, the United Nations community, and internationally, through videos, personal contacts, experiential programs, conferences, and multifaith prayer services. Visit: Http://www.templeofunderstanding.org
WORLD CONFERENCE ON RELIGION AND PEACE is the world’s largest interfaith organization with chapters in many countries around the world. It works internationally with religious institutions and through ngo's and the United Nations community; it addresses a host of peace-related issues and coordinates multifaith leadership in arenas such as conflict-resolution, disarmament and religious freedom. Visit: www.wcrp.org
NORTH AMERICAN INTERFAITH NETWORK (NAIN) offers networking among approximately 60 interfaith organizations in Canada, Mexico and the USA. Its web site offers a directory of interfaith organizations, a list of religious web sites, NAIN's online newsletter and Interfaith Digest, a chat
room, a library, young adult pages, and other related information. Its next annual conference will be held in
Wichita, Kansas, next August. Visit: www.nain.org
UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE is a grass-roots international interfaith organization with over 130 cooperation circles and numerous affiliate organizations and individuals. The URI Emergency Response Network (in San Francisco) offers a model in which over 100 religious leaders in the wider Bay
area have formed a network to respond instantly to verified acts of hate violence perpetrated against religious, ethnic, racial, and gender minorities in Northern California. Visit: www.uri.org
WORLD INTERFAITH CONGRESS. This interfaith networking web site offers free directory listings, content, discussion and network services to more than 800 faith-based, ecumenical and interfaith organizations, plus many individual participants. Additional organizational representatives are invited to participate by providing their own information and accessing discussions, documents from religious and interfaith organizations, project descriptions, contact information for many other organizations with numerous areas of service and focus, and more. (Note: this web site was inactive for a time, but is now poised for greater participation.)
Visit: www.interfaithcongress.org
Fourteen international Interfaith Organisations released a statement following the September 11th tragedy. Their web sites offer an excellent introduction to the work of these organisations and initiatives in interfaith dialogue that are contributing to peace and justice throughout the world.
JOINT STATEMENT by 14 INTERNATIONAL INTERFAITH ORGANISATIONS
In response to recent tragic events in the United States of America and ongoing conflicts with religious dimensions around the world, our international interfaith organisations offer our inter-religious dialogue expertise and resources to address the current crisis and promote peace-building initiatives.
We have direct experience of bringing into peaceful and constructive dialogue the mainstream and marginalised, moderate and militant religious voices of our world. Working with the world's faith communities, we have found that inter-religious dialogue can help heal wounds caused by feelings of injustice, isolation, and inequality.
Our international interfaith organisations with their global outreach and networks offer peaceful alternatives to war. Contact us:
(in alphabetical order)
Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
International Association for Religious Freedom
International Interfaith Centre (Coordinating organisation)
Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders
Temple of Understanding (email address)
United Nations Spiritual Forum for World Peace Initiative
World Conference on Religion and Peace
World Faiths Development Dialogue
World Fellowship of Inter-Religious Councils
Our activities include:
- working with religious leaders and activists in conflict situations throughout the world, including the Balkans and Africa
- developing a voluntary code of practice for religious and belief communities
- preparing a summit of religious and spiritual women at the United Nations in Geneva
- bringing local people into locally rooted yet globally connected dialogue
- organising a Parliament of the World's Religions
- evolving a Global Engagement Network of guiding institutions to address global critical issues
- hosting international gatherings to promote interfaith understanding and co-operative efforts for peace
- creating active dialogues between faith communities and multilateral development agencies on poverty and development
- training young people for community based interfaith work and social action
- contributing peaceful and constructive solutions to difficult situations
- internationally addressing issues of racism, communalism, conflict transformation, disarmament, security, the needs of HIV/Aids orphans, and religious freedom
- giving voices to marginalised young people throughout Europe
- making available a variety of information and educational programmes to encourage widespread spiritual, religious, cultural, intellectual and social reflection
