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The UK witnessed its first ever National Inter Faith Week which took place between the 15th and 21st November 2009. The Week was a joint initiative between the UK Inter Faith Network and the Department for Communities and Local Government and began with a launch event in London on the 12th November during which local inter faith bodies, regional inter faith bodies, and individual faith communities were represented and displayed information about who they are and what they do. We at the North West Forum of Faiths supported Inter Faith Week in the North West of England and encouraged everyone taking part in Inter Faith Week to advertise their events. The purpose of Inter Faith week was as follows:

• •    to strengthen good inter faith relations at all levels;
• •    to increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, in particular celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society; and
• •    to increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious belief.

Local inter faith groups as well as other organizations were asked to showcase their work and raise the profile of inter faith and multi faith initiatives in our society. The Week reflected the great diversity of interfaith and multi-faith activity in this country. Events included a football match between people of different faiths, a cycling event involving members of various faiths, a multi faith prayer meeting, theological seminars, a conference on spirituality and health, youth events, events on faith and the environment, exhibitions in museums, tours and arranged visits to places of worship, celebration of religious diversity, a film festival, a session for RE teachers, and a conference looking at inter faith structures and their relationship with the public sector. Activities included social gatherings, social action initiatives, consultation on strategic engagement, as well as spiritual and theological exchanges.

Britain is arguably one of the countries most supportive of inter faith activities in the world. The UK government published a framework for engaging with religions entitled Face to Face and Side by Side: a framework for partnership in our multi – faith society (CLG 2008) and has strong commitment to working with faith communities. It was in this document that Inter Faith Week was first mentioned.  During the launch event in London, Communities Secretary the Rt Hon John Denham MP spoke of the government’s commitment to InterFaith Week as follows:

Government should respect – should value, prize and celebrate – those things which matter to citizens. And for many, their faith shapes and defines who they are and this deserves respect. But Government and politicians are also interested in how society can be shaped for the better. Whether it is parenting, personal health, or sustainability, government is interested in what makes people tick. For millions of people the values instilled by their faith are central to shaping their behavior. We should continually encourage and enhance the contribution faith makes on the central issues of our time. Inter Faith Week creates more opportunities for people of    different faiths, including young people, to explore how their faith helps them understand and respond to these challenges and, through this, build a stronger society.
Thus the Inter Faith Week initiative not only highlighted the contributions that faith communities and inter faith bodies make, but also drew attention to the  significant support of the UK government for inter faith activity. Compared with how faith issues have been viewed in the past this is a significant development.

Some commentators argue that religious/ sectarian conflict, together with the philosophy of the enlightenment and the scientific revolution followed by industrialisation in the 19th century as well as the growth of materialism throughout the 20th century, contributed to an inevitable decline of faith and religion in the public realm. In the 1970s there was a sense amongst many that the relevance of religion, faith and spirituality would vanish altogether and cease to play any major role in society in the 21st century, especially in Europe. But the picture that presents itself in Britain today seems to question the predictions of the 1970s. The pluralist nature of British society is an obvious factor in this as well as the negative impact of violent extremism. The profile of faith in public consciousness is rising and that is increasingly reflected in initiatives such as Inter Faith Week. Recent research suggests that personal spirituality is still relevant in may people’s lives. According to the national census of 2001, the first to ask about faith, 77.4% of the population identified themselves as religious in some shape or form, although only 36% viewed themselves as practicing their faith.

The inter faith agenda offers a way to engage with this new reality.. current research in the Northwest  Faith in England’s North West: How Faith Communities Contributes to Social and Economic Wellbeing (NWDA 2009) analyses 12 publicly funding faith based projects to determine the added value that faith brings to social action. There are currently more than 30 inter faith bodies active in the North West undertaking the broad range of activities. These provide opportunities in virtually every locality to engage with faith communities in responding to the problems presented by contemporary society today and to help shape its future.

If you or your faith community would like to get involved in inter faith activity or if you are interested in our research please do not hesitate to contact me.

Carlo Schröder
Inter Faith Development Officer
North West Forum of Faiths
T: 01925 400139
M: 07824 605210    E: carlo.schroder@nwda.co.uk    www.faithnorthwest.org.uk/