Forging relationships with faiths

By Victoria Bartlett
BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight

Zahir Ahmed and Martin Goldstein will share their viewpoints

Events across the south are encouraging good relationships between faiths to help build communities.

Inter Faith Week begins on 15 November 2009 and aims to increase understanding of, and between, different religious groups.

It also celebrates the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society.

People with religious beliefs are also involved in the community-led meetings and activities.

BBC iPlayer: BBC Radio Solent's Faith Debate

Inter Faith organisations

The week is being led by the Inter Faith Network for the UK and the Department for Communities and Local Government but local people of different backgrounds will be holding their own events to highlight work going on within their area.

This is the first national Inter Faith Week, but the second year for Southampton to hold a conference on the subject, linking up the emergency services, hospitals, local authorities with local multi-faith communities to share resources and knowledge.

The Southampton Inter Faith Link (SIFL) was started about 15 years ago because local faiths wanted to work together for happiness.

This developed into the Southampton Council of Faiths (SCOF) - a registered charity which consists of five representatives for each of the seven main faiths in the city (Bahá'í, Buddhist, Christian, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism).

Last year's Youth Peace Walk in Southampton was well attended

Other times of the year they organise Peace Walks, where up to 300 people walk a route linking places of worship.

Last year the group's walk took in Nanaksar Gurdwara in Peterborough Rd, The Synagogue in Mordaunt Rd, Friends House (Quakers), Abu Bakr Mosque, Northam Methodist Church, Vedic temple, with talks form Buddhists and Bahá'í along the way.

David Vane is a member of Soka Gakkai International, a lay Buddhist organisation and he is also secretary for the Southampton Council of Faiths and Vice Chair of SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education). He said:

"At SCOF we aim to provide education about the faiths because a lack of understanding leads to aggression or fear. Our members advise schools and the provide the major authorities and council with faith advisors each year - which is pretty unique."

Local events

There is a Friendship evening to mark the start of National Interfaith week at St Mary's church in Southampton from 1600 - 1800 on Sunday, 15 November. People from all backgrounds can join in this evening of different prayers and sharing food - learning from each other but remaining true to their own faith.

On 19 November the Southampton Council of Faiths conference will take place at the Vedic Temple on Radcliffe Rd.

We live in a multi-faith society and they all matter, whatever the size of group they belong to. Tim Daykin

The conference aims to discuss how the different cultures and communities in Southampton work together to build understanding and shared values.

Communities Secretary and Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, John Denham, will be the main speaker along with Alex Marshall, Chief Constable of Hampshire Police, and Parvin Damani, former mayor of Southampton and one of the founders of the Inter Faith movement in Southampton.

On Wednesday 18 November the Hampshire Inter-Faith Network will be hosting a lecture with Rabbi Blue in the Ashburton Hall, at Hampshire County Council, Winchester. Email [e-mail] to book your place.

The Lecture will be followed by a performance by Berakah, a group comprised of Jewish, Christian and Muslim musicians.

A graffiti workshop for 10-15 year olds will be happening on Saturday 21 November at the Abu Bakr Mosque. Places are limited so you will need to book a place by going to the Southampton Council of Faiths webpage

Jeff Lynn, Chair of SCOF said: "We have a remarkably diverse community in Southampton and we are remarkably good at living and working together.

"But sometimes we feel, in our working and social lives, that we have to put our faith to one side.

"In the Southampton Council of Faiths we are firmly believe that we should all "speak with pride and listen with respect", whatever the situation.

"I want the conference to demonstrate that and encourage everyone to continue making Southampton a great place to live."

BBC Radio Solent coverage

Attendees at last year's Southampton Council of Faiths conference

A special programme is being recorded at the conference to highlight Inter Faith Week and reflect the viewpoints of the seven different faiths in the audience.

This show can be heard at 1900 on Thursday, 19 November and 0700 on Sunday, 22 November 2009.

Religious show presenter, Tim Daykin, will be hosting the programme. He said: "It's a unique opportunity to hear the views of a broad spectrum of faiths.

"I think the challenges facing the world today need to be understood through the lense of many different faiths - not just one. We live in a multi-faith society and they all matter, whatever the size of group they belong to."