District Inter Faith Relations Conference: Day 2

District Inter Faith Relations Conference: 14-15th July 2010

I was really looking forward to our first visitor of the day Philip Lewis, as I had heard him speak before at the AGM of the Building Bridges. He was good then and even better this time, as before it was to a huge group of about a hundred people, here we were a small intimate group of about ten; what a privilege!
I was not disappointed. The only thing I regret is that I now suffer from senior moments so I was unable to retain all that he said and I cannot do shorthand. He is very much an academic, but one who is grounded in reality. He is gifted in giving the context from all sorts of perspectives. I would recommend his books (he has a number for reading).

The question he posed was ` How we live well together`. Although I have worked in Burnley for eight years, he gave me lots of new insights:-

a. Context of Islam – their history born to power and dominance, yet here in Britain they have to adapt to living in a democracy as a minority.

b. `Can one be equal as a minority within the Society`?

c. Both Islam and Christianity are mission faiths, how do we live well with our differences?

d. No - one is naturally a Muslim, just as no-one is naturally a Christian. All are individuals with diversity running through them; it reminded me of a stick of rock.

We then went on a circular tour of Bradford on the Free Bus. Barbara Glasson, Director of Touchstone Centre, had told us not to sit near each other but to use our ears and eyes to get an understanding of the different people in Bradford. What an array of people we saw, yet all had in common that they were going about their business of living. Inter faith relations needs to build on what we have in common not what is different. One thing which made me smile was that the age old courtesy of standing for your elders to sit down is alive and well in Bradford with all cultures and ages.

Time was running out on us now for some of our group as they had to get connecting trains. Some of them had travelled as far as Cornwall and Wales. They deserve a medal!

Our last three speakers, Ushna Dominic, Shabana Kauser (pictured above) and Awais Dominic (previously pictured with Barbara Glasson talking to Philip Lewis) told us their stories.  It emphasised again the key role that women play in inter faith work. We heard about home, education and religion. They themselves felt that women were bringing about community change in a man’s world. Of course I agreed with this, but then as a woman I may be biased!

So what can I say in conclusion? A big thank you to all who shared this part of my journey with me. The one thing I am sure of is that the journey it is not yet over, and I am looking forward with hope, after hearing and seeing interfaith in action at Touchstone and wider Bradford.

My prayer for us all is what Awais shared with us. John Wesley’s rule for Christian Living:-
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can,
In all the ways you can, in all the places you can,
At all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever YOU CAN.”

Yours in his sonshine
Bea Foster

I am grateful to Bea for her reflections on the Conference. 
Photographs: Joy Barrow
If you want further details of the opportunities for dialogue available at the Touchstone Centre see
http://www.touchstone-bradford.org.uk/
Joy Barrow, Inter Faith Relations Officer, Methodist Church in Britain.