Human beings are naturally spiritual, so research shows, and demonstrate this in many different ways, formal and informal. Understanding the different ways this is expressed and how cooperation is necessary between faiths is essential for good community relations. Interfaith groups have their part to play in achieving this. So stated Marianne Rankin, Director of Communications for the Alister Hardy Trust in a talk organised by Hounslow Friends of Faith in Hounslow on 20th July 2016. Below is an edited version of what she said.

Marianne told the audience the definition of Religious or Spiritual Experience given by Sir Alister Hardy: A deep awareness of a benevolent non-physical power which appears to be partly or wholly beyond, and far greater than, the individual self. Spiritual experience offers a glimpse of the beyond, she said. Awareness ranges from a momentary experience of awe and wonder right across the spectrum to the intensity of mystical experience.

Although it seems many people have spiritual experiences, Marianne said, they are reluctant to speak about them, often for many years. But as soon as they are encouraged to do so, they share what they have experienced at great depth. There have been accounts of spiritual experiences throughout the ages which have been studied by academics in various disciplines – notably William James. In the UK it was Sir Alister Hardy who began the research. He was a Darwinian biologist who lived from 1896-1985. Hardy was the Linacre Professor of Zoology at Oxford, where he taught Richard Dawkins. He looked at the findings of anthropologists who have, in fact, not yet found a civilisation without some recognition of a power beyond the human being, something ‘other’ to which humans relate, and which they revere. Hardy believed that spirituality was a natural part of consciousness. His vision was of a scientific theology, a natural theology.

In 1925 Hardy first became aware of accounts of spiritual experience in the press and began a collection of accounts using a press agency. He then placed adverts in the religious press, with a poor response. So he turned to the secular newspapers, the Guardian, Observer, Times and Daily Mail. There, after a short article or example of a spiritual experience, he posed what is now known as ‘The Hardy Question’: Have you ever been aware of or influenced by a presence or power, whether you call it God or not, which is different from your everyday self?

There was an overwhelming response, as readers sent in about 3000 accounts of experiences they had never dared share with anyone before, for fear of being thought abnormal. This was the beginning of what is now an archive of about 6,000 accounts held at the Religious Experience Research Centre (RERC) at the University of Wales,Trinity Saint David in Lampeter.

Hardy considered that spiritual experience was a universal natural human trait and his successors extended the research from the UK to China despite religion being suppressed there since 1949. Studies were also conducted in Taiwan, Turkey and Tamil Nadu in India. In all cases it was found that the phenomenon of spiritual experience was widespread and among people of all types.

For many people traditional religion is a structure which suits them and underpins their lives as well as offering a community of like-minded people as companions on their religious journey. However, there are probably more for whom in the 21st century, it does not work.
A survey by David Hay, a former Director of RERC and biographer of Sir Alister Hardy showed that in 1987 48% of people reported some kind of spiritual experience. By 2000, despite church attendance having dropped by 20%, this had risen to 76%.

Although in some ways formal religion seems on the margins today, it is clear that, despite the assumption in the 20th century that religion would die out, this has not happened. Religion is still powerful and our world is now threatened by religious fanatics. To combat this, Marianne said, those who understand the true heart of faith need to have a higher profile and to stand up to misinterpretation – particularly of Islam. Organisations like Hounslow Friends of Faith, which bring traditions together and encourage co-operation between religious traditions, are even more important than ever.

If the spiritual side of human nature is real and universal, then religion and spirituality will not die out. The message of love, found in all traditions and the code of conduct expressed in the Golden Rule (Do as you would be done by) must be our aim of working together for peace in the world, she said.

Each year on, for example, Remembrance Sunday, leaders of different religions are seen together, visible evidence of working together. “We need more of this” she said. “Public representation of harmony between them is important as is co-operation in our communities.”
Marianne added that “if we allow that which is beyond to come through, it can transform ourselves and our world. These experiences seem to point the way to understanding what it means to be truly human.”

Marianne Rankin is author of An Introduction to Religious and Spiritual Experience (Bloomsbury 2008). A full version of her talk to HFOF is available from the HFOF Information Officer on the usual contacts.

The photograph shows Marianne fifth from the left, enjoying refreshments with the audience after her talk.

Well over 50 people enjoyed brilliant sunshine as they took part in HFOF’s annual Walk of Peace and Friendship on 5^th June 2016.  The route comprised four places of worship in Hounslow, visiting Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Buddhist centres.  All are establishing themselves so they can live their lives well in the local community.

The event began at Heathrow Jamia Masjid in Park Lane in Cranford which has recently completed the first phase of the development of a disused British Legion Building into an attractive and well maintained centre for services for the Muslim community.  Walkers were encouraged to find time and love for humanitarian work.  The pilgrimage continued to the St Mark and Pope Kyrillos VI Coptic Orthodox Church in Broad Walk.  Father Morkos explained how icons are ‘written’ not painted, to give a sense of the life of the saints, rather than a portrait.  This church provides food for homeless people.

Moving on, the next visit was to the Jalaram Jupadi Hindu Mandir in Barrack Road where walkers were impressed by the newly extended building, now better able to provide service including meals to anyone in need in their area.  The final visit was to the Dewachan Nepalese Buddhist Centre in Munster Avenue.  The group have recently launched themselves as a centre and are looking for bigger premises to meet better the needs of their community.  Lama Dharam Gurung explained how Buddhists work for religious and racial harmony.

The Mayor of Hounslow Councillor Ajmer Grewel, her consort Councillor Pritam Grewel and Ruth Cadbury MP joined in the Walk.   The Mayor welcomed the event as a way to meet people rather than make assumptions from observation from a distance.  She praised faith groups for the service they provide to the community.  Charanjit Ajit Singh, Chair of Hounslow Friends of Faith, welcomed the new energy which newer faith groups bring.

Commenting at the end of the day one first time walker described the event as an eye opener.  ‘My horizons have been widened’ she said.

50 people representing a wide range of faith communities came together on 11th April 2016 and shared the joys and challenges of meeting some of the social needs in the borough at this stimulating conference at the Civic Centre.  The meeting for Faith Leaders was the initiative of the Mayor of Hounslow Councillor Nisar Malik who opened the event by thanking places of worship for the positive difference which faiths can make through social action, dialogue or shared learning. ‘Whatever our differences, our neighbourhood is what we have in common’ he said.

The aims of this conference were

1. to celebrate the social welfare work of faith communities

2. to share information on what work faith communities are currently doing

3. to look at any issues where providers need support e.g. buildings, volunteers,

funding, advice re Health and Safety, safeguarding etc.

4. to look at ways these could be addressed either informally between faiths or with the support of Hounslow Council

5. to look at social and economic indicators in the borough and assess if there are

areas of need where faith communities could help

Before moving to the first speaker Charanjit Ajit Singh, Chair for the day referred to the recent report ‘Living with difference: community, diversity and the common good,’  the report of the Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life chaired by Baroness Butler-Sloss and published by the Woolf Institute in December 2015.  The full report can be found at https://corablivingwithdifference.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/living-with-difference-community-diversity-and-the-common-good.pdf.

The conference heard presentations from four faith groups: Holy Trinity Hounslow about the Olive Branch project for homeless single men; St Paul’s Hounslow West and their services which make a response to lack of resources for food and a sense of family; the Sikh Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Alice Way, Hounslow whose Wellbeing service provides volunteers who give advice on a range of health issues including alcohol and domestic violence; and finally the range of services provided by the Darussalam Masjid and Islamic Centre in Heston for young Somalis, including involvement in rugby as sponsored by the RFU.

A survey completed before the conference showed projects run by faith communities include health information, debt advice, support for people suffering homelessness, and toddler groups.  Joan Conlon, Community Inclusion and Participation Manager for Hounslow Council stressed how helpful it is to know the full range of the good work being done.  Please let her know your project, however small on joan.conlon@hounslow.gov.uk.

It is also useful if the Directory of Places of Worship in the borough is kept up to date.  Please send any changes to info@hounslowfriendsoffaith.org.

The Hounslow Council Joint Commissioning Team explained the Life Project, the title for a grouping of a wide range of services of public and NHS health, social care and community projects aiming to support people with age or health needs to remain living at home and delay and reduce their use of hospital services. This will include advice, appropriate supported housing, falls prevention, services for people with dementia among others.

In workshops on homelessness, health matters, asylum seekers/new arrivals, families and young people and education the faith volunteers highlighted what would assist their work.  The main issues were

1. Information on how and where to refer people on to, including during unsocial hours

2. The legal framework when responding to asylum seekers

3. Training for volunteers on good practice in responding to people with often multiple and challenging needs

4. Support for users with, particularly, mental health needs and also domestic violence

5. a borough wide registry of services

Debbie Brenner, Vice Chair of Hounslow Community Network (HCN), the collective voice for voluntary groups in the borough of Hounslow, encouraged faith groups to join HCN.  The forum can provide information on e.g. funding, new initiatives, and ‘Meet the Developers’ sessions when voluntary groups could discuss benefits as the result of a new development in an area.  The group can make representations when cuts to public services are being planned.  HCN is represented on bodies such as the Safer Neighbourhood Board, and the Forums for Adult Care and Mental Health. See http://www.hounslowhub.org.uk for more information.

Uttam Gujral, Head of Community Investment and Cohesion, Community Partnerships Unit at Hounslow Council described the role of her department which is to promote partnership with community groups and Hounslow Council, community cohesion and to support forums. The aim of the Unit is to increase the ability of voluntary groups (the Third Sector) in the work they do to benefit the community.  Uttam asked for feedback from faith communities to know how this arrangement is working and where there are gaps. Email uttam.gujral@hounslow.gov.uk

Those present agreed repeating this meeting would be welcome.  Councillor Malik, Mayor of Hounslow again thanked faith groups for the work they do.  He felt the conference had been very useful to learn what is being provided and what needs there are.  Examples were a Directory of Information to assist signposting and for training.  He agreed there was a definite need to meet again.

The start of Jewish Chanukah or the Festival of Lights was celebrated on 6^th December at a well attended gathering in Isleworth.  Members of the local Orthodox and Liberal Jewish community explained the history and traditions of the event and lit candles on examples of the nine branched menorah, or candelabra.  Guests enjoyed music and traditional food such as potato cakes known as latkes and doughnuts.  In Jewish families token gifts are given to children, in the past silver threepences, and now chocolate coins, explained Debbie Brenner.

The festival commemorates the Jewish people’s successful fight to worship their religion freely over 2000 years ago in 162 BCE.

‘Hounslow synagogue sadly had to close in 2008 due to falling numbers which limits the opportunity for personal contacts and information sharing with the Jewish community.  We were delighted to accept the offer by Brentford and Isleworth Quakers to host the occasion’ said Basil Mann.

The event was organised by Hounslow Friends of Faith and attended by 50 people representing many faiths and beliefs.  The vote of thanks was given by Abdul Majid, trustee of the Hounslow Jamia Mosque.  ‘We are all one family and must look after each other’ he said’.

See Gallery for more pictures.