Building Bridges Across Boundaries: Between Edinburgh and Dublin
In celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week, and the International Day of Human Fraternity, the Edinburgh Interfaith Association and Dublin City Interfaith Forum joined together virtually through a series of dialogue sessions. Despite issues posed by the pandemic, and without the resources at the disposal of larger organisations, we joined together across the waters. Our organisations have worked in partnership before on events and sharing best practice, but this was the first time we have united specific faith communities virtually, to create a feeling of fraternity. These events created a culture of peace: of mutual understanding and respect, transcending boundaries of race and religion, through inter religious dialogue.
Harmony was facilitated in these events through outlining our issues of common concern, and how we can learn from the example of the other (e.g. Scottish Shia community learning from the history of ecumenical peace building in Ireland). Understanding was facilitated through the opportunity to ask the “difficult” questions. The past cooperation between our great cities was built upon, and we have built bridges to further connect our communities and spread a message of positive diversity and harmony. The excellence of our efforts was recognised by all involved: lay members of communities and faith leaders alike claimed to have learnt something new about the “other”; friendships were grown, and members were invited to visit Mosques and other places of worship, and our respective cities; the content of our talks ranged from theological and historical backing for respect and the underlying moral imperatives of all religions, to managing effective interfaith events online to keep fostering mutual understanding during the pandemic, and how to end stereotyping and scapegoating, intolerance and discrimination. We therefore believe that these events successfully embody the principles of the text of the UN Resolution.