Why Interfaith?

17th Jun 2009; 18:30

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Join Karen Armstrong as she examines the very concept, function and value of interfaith dialogue in this exclusive event.

Why is there such emphasis on interfaith initiatives?  Is the interfaith project about achieving inter-cultural awareness, respect and mutual understanding, or putting aside religious differences for the sake of shared objectives such as poverty reduction, conflict resolution and community engagement?  What can we hope to gain from such dialogues, and are they a necessary response to an increasingly globalized world? 

What are the mechanisms for cooperation in a pluralistic society, and should we emphasise the similarities and commonalities between various traditions, or do we risk undermining their distinctiveness?  Are some religious traditions simply incompatible with others? Are these the natural limitations to interfaith dialogue, and if so, how do we deal with them?

Former Catholic nun, distinguished author of many bestselling and influential books on comparative religion, and instigator of the interfaith initiative ‘The Charter for Compassion’, Karen Armstrong is perfectly placed to grapple with some of these essential questions for our times.

Chair: Stephen Sackur, presenter of BBC's HARDtalk.

In association with The Three Faiths Forum

Suggested hashtag for Twitter users: #rsafaith

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