Meeting of Priests and Faith Leaders
7th January 2008
50 representatives of all the different faiths met together at the Sikh Gurdwara in Hounslow on 7th January at a gathering for priests, ministers and spiritual heads, orgainised by Hounslow Friends of Faith. Opening the event, Ajit Singh, chairman of the group, praised the leadership role which priests hold among their faith members. By getting to know each other better it should be possible to recognise the truth which lies at the heart of all religions. It would also be possible to face together the common challenges such as lack of morality in society, exploitation, homelessness, crime and the environment. Other concerns to members of all faiths include lack of popularity of marriage, inter-faith marriages and how to educate children in their faith – a huge agenda indeed. Sharing celebrations of festivals such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid, Diwali and Sikh gurus’ birthdays, which often occur near each other, encourage people to develop awareness of values in common.
Bishop Michael Colclough, Bishop of Kensington referred to the rich mix of people and faiths in west London in which Hounslow is an example of how the different faiths and the borough could work together. If all faiths worked together they could exert great influence. Christians accept that clergy may at times be seen as figures of fun, but there is a danger of losing the sense of holiness of faith which other religions maintain. He praised three basic tenets of Sikhism, an awareness of God, truthfulness in living and a belief in equality and social justice. People mustn’t be afraid to ask questions of those of other faiths as by understanding people you get to know them.
In comments afterwards Imam Sulaimani of Hounslow Jamia Mosque said people of all faiths should work together. He thanked HFOF for organising the event. Manny Felberg from Hounslow Synagogue said the majority of people are good and there should more articles on what good things occur in the world rather than the bad events.
Drawing the gathering to a close, Alfred Agius pointed out that friendship between faiths and between people should never be taken for granted, but must be actively promoted. He hoped this meeting could become a regular occurrence.
Mix-Faith Marriages Conference
3 March 2008
Marriage was a hot topic for Mothering Sunday when Hounslow Friends of Faith brought together people of all faiths and none to explore what happens when people of different religions fall in love. They shared stirring stories of enduring love and enriching friendships, as well as compromise, loneliness, isolation and sometimes violence.
Religious leaders, and people who are themselves in mixed faith relationships and a representative of the Metropolitan Police from the Community Safety Unit, met to learn from their experiences along with the two key speakers, Heather al-Yousuf and Rosalind Birtwistle.
A resource pack on Inter Faith Relationships produced by the key speakers was available at the conference organised in collaboration with Westminster Inter Faith, at St Michael and St Martin’s Catholic Primary School, Hounslow. “We aim not to be agony aunts,” said Rosalind Birtwistle. “But many people are seeking information and emotional support. There’s an internet forum to write to on www.interfaithmarriage.org.uk”
To the melting pot of stories of human emotions Heather al-Yousuf added her key question: “Do you think of someone marrying into a faith or someone marrying out of their faith?” From her perspective of more than twenty years as an Anglican Christian married to a Muslim man, she would advise treading carefully between being positive and being cautionary. There can be real pain for those who have to give up their deeply held beliefs and convert to their new partner’s faith. “Is there a way forward without jettisoning everything that is best in religion?” Heather asked.
Inter faith marriages are often inter cultural. One woman said: “For my children it is always fasting, fasting, fasting, praying, praying, praying, mosque on Friday, church on Sunday.” Another woman, a Christian married to a Jewish man, said: “For me it is a matter of seeing God in everyone I meet. My second commandment is that we eat together.”
Some inter faith relationships can trigger resentment and even violence. Yvonne Rhoden from the Metropolitan Police Community Safety Unit said marriages between people of difference faiths and particularly arranged marriages, were sometimes a factor in domestic violence. She referred to a number of high profile murders at the centre of which had been the tensions of a mixed faith marriage. The challenge lies in reconciling faith and secular law.
The attitudes of different faith traditions towards mixed faith marriages was explored, including this from Charanjit Ajit Singh: “It is important to note that while Sikh families aspire for a Sikh marriage, they know that in a fast changing society, that may not always be possible, and there can be divisions and conflict. If we value the diversity of the traditions and work towards finding sensitive ways forward, better relationships can be found.”
Walk of Peace and Friendship
22nd June 2008
The annual Pilgrimage of Peace and Friendship took place on Sunday 22 June when more than eighty people of all faiths and none were welcomed to a Russian Orthodox Church, a Sikh gurdwara, an Anglican parish church and a Hindu temple. Using a coach for the first time allowed the event to travel further than before, seeing examples of places of worship from all parts of the borough.
Questions of faith, festivals, symbols and worship revealed common interest among the faith communities. The first stop on the journey was at the Russian Orthodox church in Harvard Road, Chiswick, moving on to the gurdwara in Martindale Road, Hounslow for lunch, then to St Dunstan's parish church, St Dunstan's Road, Feltham, with the final visit at the Laxmi Narayan Hindu temple in Neville Close, Hounslow.
Louise and Shammi Vig from Hounslow said for them the day was about growing in understanding: "It's good to see people taking down barriers as they began to meet new friends," said Louise.
Talk at Hounslow Synagogue
7th July 2008
July took us to Hounslow Synagogue for a talk by Rabbi Vogel of Ealing United Synagogue, attended by about 45 people. Rabbi Vogel spoke about his life and what brought him into his ministry. ‘We have one common goal: to love our neighbour as ourselves and to make the world a better place’. In addition to his work with his own community he serves as Jewish chaplain at Heathrow Airport. He responds during critical times and provides a ‘friendly face’ when passengers face difficult situations..
Ken Livingstone and students from Villiers School
One World Week
4th October 2008
Learning to live simply to care for the planet
An imaginative eco-fashion show on Saturday 4th October led by pupils from Villiers School, Southall delivered an urgent plea to care for the planet: Recycle, Reduce and Re-use. Their message was endorsed by former London mayor, Ken Livingstone speaking at the event, “Going Green Together”. A display of work by Lampton School students also illustrated the issues.
People from all faiths shared their deep concerns for the environment and echoed the feeling of a moving film created by the Brahma Kumaris which said “Never does wisdom say one thing and nature another.” Speakers included Hounslow Mayor Councillor Genevieve Hibbs who said: ”God’s love for the world includes all people. We can’t trash the world and love people.”
Ken Livingstone reminded the gathering that in 2003, around 600 people died from extreme heat in London. Urging everyone to consume less, waste less and live sensibly, he said this is the most critical century humanity has faced. “People of faith have always had awareness that consumerism is not a substitute for human relationships. We must get back to valuing the time we spend with others, not the time we spend shopping.”
Speakers suggested these key earth-friendly steps:
Become vegan or vegetarian
Don’t flush toilets unless necessary
Use low energy light bulbs
Cut energy consumption
Think before you open the fridge door
Turn off lights if you’re out of a room for more than 10 seconds
Totally insulate homes
Don’t boil more water than you intend to use
Recycle all plastic
Invest in solar panels and photovoltaic cells
Walk, cycle or use public transport
Live simply.
Titled ‘Going Green Together, what faiths are doing about the environment’, the day celebrated One World Week. Jagdeesh Singh from Sikh Environment Network, Muzamah Hussein of LINE, the London Islamic Network for the Environment and Revd John Hereward, A Rocha Christian Conservation Group, spoke about how the teachings of their faith inspire them to work for change.
14th October 2008
What Islam brings to Hounslow
Hounslow Friends of Faith welcomed the Imam of Hounslow Jamia Mosque and Islamic Centre, Sheik Nisar Ahmad Hussain Suleimani, to address their annual meeting on 14th October, during which he stressed the need to maintain strong family values and to live a balanced life.
In a talk entitled: "Islam in Britain: its contribution to the UK and to Hounslow", the Imam said that Islam can encourage people to be spiritual people. People of faith need to study scriptures for guidelines on how to live. "Friends of God can be judged by their intentions, which must be based on awareness and truth. There are suicide bombers and their intentions are based on ignorance," he said.
The Imam said that an aspect of Islam's message for British society was to recognise the importance of the institution of the family. Elderly parents should live with their families, he said.
"People should not run after too much materialism," he added. Instead they should live a balanced life and come back to God. "Friends of God cannot be the enemy of people of God," he explained and this is the common message of the prophets of the three faiths, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
This second annual general meeting in 2008 was brought forward to bring the presentation of the accounts nearer to the end of the financial year.