|
Building Good
Relations
with People of Different
Faiths and Beliefs
In Britain today, people of
many different faiths and beliefs live side by side. The
opportunity lies before us to work together to build a
society rooted in the values we treasure. But this society
can only be built on a sure foundation of mutual respect,
openness and trust. This means finding ways to live our
lives of faith with integrity, and allowing others to do
so too. Our different religious traditions offer us many
resources for this and teach us the importance of good
relationships characterised by honesty, compassion and
generosity of spirit. The Inter Faith Network offers the
following code of conduct for encouraging and
strengthening these relationships.
As members of the human family, we
should show each other respect and courtesy. In our
dealings with people of other faiths and beliefs this
means exercising good will and:
 |
Respecting other people's freedom
within the law to express their beliefs and
convictions |
|
|
Learning to understand what others
actually believe and value, and letting them express
this in their own terms |
|
|
Respecting the convictions of others
about food, dress and social etiquette and not
behaving in ways which cause needless offence
|
|
|
Recognising that all of us at times
fall short of the ideals of our own traditions and
never comparing our own ideals with other
people's practices |
|
|
Working to prevent disagreement from
leading to conflict |
|
|
Always seeking to avoid violence in
our relationships |
When we talk about matters of faith with
one another, we need to do so with sensitivity, honesty
and straightforwardness. This means:
|
|
Recognising that listening as well as
speaking is necessary for a genuine conversation
|
|
|
Being honest about our beliefs and
religious allegiances |
|
|
Not misrepresenting or disparaging
other people's beliefs and practices
|
|
|
Correcting misunderstanding or
misrepresentations not only of our own but also of
other faiths whenever we come across them
|
|
|
Being straightforward about our
intentions |
|
|
Accepting that in formal inter faith
meetings there is a particular responsibility to
ensure that the religious commitment of all those who
are present will be respected. |
All of us want others to understand and
respect our views. Some people will also want to persuade
others to join their faith. In a multi faith society where
this is permitted, the attempt should always be
characterised by self-restraint and a concern for the
other's freedom and dignity. This means:
|
|
Respecting another person's expressed
wish to be left alone |
|
|
Avoiding imposing ourselves and our
views on individuals or communities who are in
vulnerable situations in ways which exploit these
|
|
|
Being sensitive and courteous
|
|
|
Avoiding violent action or language,
threats, manipulation, improper inducements, or the
misuse of any kind of power |
|
|
Respecting the right of others to
disagree with us |
Living and working together is not
always easy. Religion harnesses deep emotions which can
sometimes take destructive forms. Where this happens, we
must draw on our faith to bring about reconciliation and
understanding. The truest fruits of religion are healing
and positive. We have a great deal to learn from one
another which can enrich us without undermining our own
identities. Together, listening and responding with
openness and respect, we can move forward to work in ways
that acknowledge genuine differences but build on shared
hopes and values.
|
