Having faith in one another
Heard the one about the Pagan, the Jew and the Muslim who walked into a Christian church? Sounds like all the ingredients for a joke as it rests on the assumed conflicts when gathering across difference.
But reality, it turns out, is far more surprising than the punchline of a joke.
There were over 70 people representing 12 different faith groups who congregated at St Peter Mancroft in Norwich on Friday 11 July.
Representatives of the faith groups signed a pledge to work together for climate and nature. “We are deeply alarmed by the ongoing breakdown of our climate and the consequent impacts on nature and people… as faith communities we recognise there is an overriding duty to care for each other and the natural world on which we all depend,” it said. “This means investing in nature, supporting nature-friendly farming and recognising the health and economic benefits of the natural world It means backing UK jobs, securing a just, green transition and building a cleaner, healthier future for all.”
They came together to jointly discuss climate, nature and the need for a ‘just transition’. Not only did they find common cause amongst their diversity, they frequently demonstrated active listening and curiosity. They made deep level connections across belief systems. They synthesised ideas about how they could convert their thoughts into meaningful action, working with three of the region’s local MPs (Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South, Alice MacDonald, MP for Norwich North, and Dr Peter Prinsley, MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket). It was inspiring stuff – even for those present (including one of the authors) who are devout agnostics.
At a time of heightened global tensions, it was encouraging to hear participants, drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and traditions, establishing the connection between “real” global security, and a stable climate; linking a peaceful world to an economy running on renewable resources that are available to all. At a time where there is anxiety about faith groups taking positions deemed to be political, there is a growing awareness that climate and nature, like ‘peace’, are inherently political (with a small ‘p’) questions – and faith has a hugely relevant role to play.
To add to the surrealness, the group photo assembled people in front of the Forum, facing a Chinook combat helicopter parked outside.
Rather than damping down ambition and becoming overly timid, coming together in diversity – as interfaith represents – can create spaces for enlivening and amplifying action. As Norwich South MP, Clive Lewis, observed towards the end of the afternoon, about the life of Jesus: religious leaders often put forward ‘radical’ ideas – like equality and love. And there was certainly a call from the faith groups present for political leaders to be brave on these issues.
The gathering was hosted by St Peter Mancroft in Norwich city centre – a church who have been leading the way in practical climate action, reducing energy consumption – and therefore bills – by replacing its lighting system, installing heat pumps, batteries and 48 solar panels.
Because if you are going to show religious leadership, you need to try to practice what you preach.
Alice MacDonald MP said to the room: “Climate change has a keenly felt impact on our area, as it does across the country and the world. Having campaigned on climate change before becoming an MP and now serving in a constituency where so many people care about this issue, I know how vital it is that we take bold action to protect our planet. I welcome opportunities like these to speak with local people about such important issues.” Amen to that.
The two of us were delighted to lead breakout sessions during the afternoon, sessions in which the MPs who’d come got the chance to hear first-hand from the floor some of the moral and spiritual leadership on these questions that all kinds of faith groups have got to offer.
Whilst we’re told that we’re an increasingly ‘connected’ society (because so much of our time is spent online and on communication devices), it’s very apparent that society has become more disconnected. Making gatherings like this, with their unique ability to form unlikely alliances, incredibly powerful. They represent a clear signal of unity in a vast sea of noise.
One might dare to imagine what might happen if we could consistently bridge across other divides, enabling connections to be made across different perspectives: young and old; rural and urban; inclusively drawing perspectives across class, nationality, politics, everything. Research evidence suggests that most people massively overestimate the difference between different people’s values and beliefs. If people were able to set aside their ‘connection devices’ temporarily and actually meet the ‘others’ in a relaxed setting, they might challenge their own perceptions about how different we are and become more engaged in what we can do together.
In that, lies the kernel of how faith can lead to action; and how we can have more faith in one another.