Project Report 4

“The Dignity of Difference in our Cities –

European Identity”

This workshop offered participants the opportunity to;

Explore their own individual identities and learn about the identities of others

Consider what they have in common and what it means to have a common European identity

Reflect on inter faith work which is supported by government/city councils etc.

Consider a variety of inter faith initiatives from across Europe

Discuss and evaluate these initiatives from across Europe

Discuss and evaluate these initiatives as a basis for committing themselves to common action.

Introductory activity

In pairs the participants learnt three things about each other and then introduced their respective partners to the whole group.

Key Note Speaker

The Key note speaker was Laurent Klein, a member of the Jewish Community from France. Laurent is a Headmaster of a public school and concerned with how to educate children in a French setting to encourage religious literacy. Laurent spoke in depth about the historic processes that had led to a multi-faith, multi-cultural Europe and then focussed on the multiple identities found in Europe today

The strict separation of Church and State in France has led to a situation where many children and indeed adults know very little about the respective religions found in France. Laurent asked questions such as what are we saying to children from religious communities when their identity is not recognised in schools in any way.

Panel of speakers from 5 faith traditions

The panel of speakers from Baha’i (Dr. Maureen Sier), Sikh (Bhai Sahib Mohinder Sing), Muslim (replacement for Zia), Jewish (Nadine Iarchy) and Christian (Monsingior Mato Zovkic) backgrounds spoke about the importance of their religious identity, the challenges faced to practice their faith in today’s society and how their faith identities can promote shared values and peace.

Each participant identified different but inter-related aspects of identity, for example our human identity, our spiritual identity, our faith identity and our cultural identity.

Workshop activity

Participants were placed in groups of four and each one was given a paper shield divided into four quadrants. In each section they had to draw ankey aspect of their identity. This was then shared with a partner and in groups of two they then had to select two things they agreed were two key aspects of their identity.

Then placed back in groups of four each group was given a large shield and together agree what was the most important key aspect of their collective identities.

Feedback followed the identity outcomes were as follows:

Group 1: world citizens

Group 2; communities in learning

Group 3; spiritual citizens

Group 4; believers

Group 5; also believers (qualifier -active, humble, believers)

Group 6; human beings (connected to others and to God - flexible, fruitful, humans)

Group 7; connected spiritual light-giving humans

In summary it was interesting, although not surprising, to note that what evolved from those taking part in this exercise was that they were world citizens with a spiritual identity, who although in a process of learning were connected to their respective faith traditions.

Suggested Vision from these outcomes

We are citizens of Europe who recognise our common humanity and our respective spiritual identities. We seek to remain connected to our God, our communities and our fellow human beings and we seek to do this through remaining in a humble, flexible, inter-connected and learning mode.

Project Presentations

There were a number of projects presented from around Europe and the participants were asked to select a project to take forward in their respective countries.

Hopen Doors (Antwerpen-Belgium)

Education for Mutual Understanding (Scotland)

Scottish Inter Faith Week (to become European Inter Faith Week)

Inter-religious and inter-convictional dialogue (Religion and Politics: different levels in Brussels)

Drums for Peace (Uccle-Brussels)

Fountains of Religion from around the world (Paris)

Inter-religious Summer Camp (Macedonia)

An interfaith approach to coexistence and social cohesion (Barcelona)

Eglise ouverte aux ‘Sans Papiers’ (Brussels)

The above vision statements were presented and all gathered modified and selected one that everyone felt comfortable with. The projects were discussed and commitments made (see below)

A number of the projects were committed to be taken to their respective countries by the participants. (See attached Encounter Rovereto Commitment List)

Ravinder Kaur Nijjar, Yolande Iliano and Maureen Sier RfP EWFN 18/6/08