Transcript Leeds University Union Placement

Leeds University Union Placement
People of “Multiple Religious Identities” and No Faith in Inter
Faith Dialogue
Rebecca Anthoney
What is Inter Faith Week?
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A nationwide initiative set up by the Inter Faith
Network for the UK
Talks: Religions 101, Life After Death, “Where is
the Love?”, Q&A Session
Events: Prayer and Meditation, Place of Worship
Crawl, “Speed-faithing”
Societies partaking: Jewish, Christian, Catholic,
Orthodox Christian, Islamic, Ahlul Bayt, Sikh,
Buddhist Meditation
Interfaith Week: My Role
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Organising events
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Advising
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Observing and participating
People with “Multiple Religious
Identities”
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The affirmation of one or more religious identities
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Not deliverately excluded from inter faith week
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Faith Societies' sense of identity is important
The Place of “Multiple Religious
Identities” in Inter Faith Dialogue
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Why should they be included?
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Difficulties: Do not fit into the usual structures
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A change of structure?
My Experiences
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Atheist Society were not present
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Asked to speak for atheists
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Difficulties engaging in discussion
Where Does Atheism Fit In?
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Is atheism a religion?
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depends on the definition of “religion”
Do non-religious people need to be involved in inter
faith?
What is a non-religious person's place in inter faith
dialogue?
Room For Improvement?
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More inclusivity? - activities and societies
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More publicity outside of faith societies
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Encourage Atheist Society involvement from the
planning stages onwards
Bibliography
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Goosen, G. 2012. Hyphenated Christians: Towards a Better Understanding of Dual Religious
Belonging. Colloquium. 44(2)
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The Interfaith Network for the UK. 2013. Inter Faith Week 2013 in England, Northern Ireland
and Wales. [Online]. [Accessed 30/04/2014]. Available from: http://www.interfaithweek.org
Knott, Kim, 2010, Insider/Outsider Perspectives in ed. Hinnels, John R, The Routeledge
Companion to the Study of Religion. Second Edition, Routledge: Abingdon
Suomala, K. 2012. Complex religious identity in the context of interfaith dialogue. Cross Currents
62(3). pp360-370