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December Newsletter
Contents
Happy Hanukkah,
Eid Mubarak
and
A Merry Christmas to everyone!
The Rise of the Racist Right
By Stephen Shashoua, Three Faiths Forum Director
The recent demonstrations of bigotry by such as the English Defence League and Stop the Islamisation of Europe must concern us all. This is not solely an attack on the Muslim community, it is an attack on British society's values, ideals and hopes for the future.
We have no choice but to stand together in confronting this threat. Some will give their support from the sidelines, others by commanding the headlines. We need these kinds of support, but we need it on the front lines as well. This is where interfaith/intercommunal solidarity really matters.
We urge your support in this struggle in whichever way suits you best. But support us you must.
Three Faiths Forum commended at Awards for Bridging Cultures
The importance of the work of the Three Faiths Forum was recognised on Tuesday 1 December when it was given an official commendation at the Awards for Bridging Cultures (ABCs). An initiative of the Institute for Community Cohesion, the ABCs were created to support the work of organisations in the UK that promote intercultural dialogue, and every year attracts numerous applicants from all over Britain. This year, the Forum’s educational work, and especially the ‘Tools 4 Trialogue’ programme, was commended.
A statement from the ABCs said that the judges "felt that this project successfully addressed the interlocking issues of inter-faith and inter-cultural conflict. They were impressed with the project’s reach to 5,000 people and welcomed the methodology that gives young people the tools to ask difficult and sensitive questions in a way that supports tolerance and respect."
The Three Faiths Forum would like to thank the judging panel of the ABCs for recognising our educational work in this way. Since ‘Tools 4 Trialogue’ was the first programme developed at 3FF four years ago, we feel honoured and grateful for this acknowledgement of the quality and positive impact of our models for intercultural dialogue.
Jazzing it up for Interfaith Week
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Intercultural dialogue took on a whole new meaning during Interfaith Week when, over two evenings in a London venue, some 200 guests from a variety of communities enjoyed music and art provided by artists from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
> Read more
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Minister for Communities and Speaker of the House at Young Leaders' Interfaith Week Reception
On Wednesday the 18th November the Three Faiths Forum hosted a young leaders’ Interfaith Week reception, featuring speeches by John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons.
> Read more |
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Archbishop of Westminster and Lord Malloch-Brown Address Annual Meeting of Ambassadors
The Three Faiths Forum held its annual meeting for Ambassadors and representatives from many of the world’s nations on 5th November, enabling them to discuss the challenging issues of faith, politics and inter-communal relations. The annual event at the Ambassadors Court, St James’s Palace, was hosted by the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, Mr. Charles Gray, CMG. > Read more
The Ariane de Rothschild Fellowship
The Ariane de Rothschild Fellowship fosters dialogue among Jewish and Muslim communities by building an international network of social entrepreneurs. > Read more |
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All Faiths and None
AFAN is a programme which offers a methodology and resources to help teachers support young people of religious and non-religious backgrounds to develop mutual understanding and to share values by meeting together for dialogue and discussion. > Read more |
Avoiding Meaningless Dialogue
By Joshua M. Z. Stanton
The nightmare scenario in inter-religious dialogue rarely involves open hostilities anymore, at least in much of the United States and Europe. This is a mark of progress. People who participate in dialogue genuinely want to interact with practitioners of other traditions – or at least learn something new. These days, dialogue at its worst is limited to platitudes and generalities about religious traditions: “Christians and Muslims both love peace. Why can’t we all just get along?” > Read more
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