CAN'T WE JUST BUILD A BRIDGE?

The concept of faith is not limited to any particular religion—or even religion itself. Faith is an action taken all over the world, every day, when individuals choose to believe in anything that transforms their lives. Over the centuries, humans of different belief systems have made many attempts at inter-religious dialogue, with varying degrees of success.

But most people will agree—we are running out of time! Fundamentalists of all stripes are promoting agendas more and more dangerous to life as we know it and more inclusive viewpoints are getting lost in the shuffle. And yet, religion and spirituality are also often-used routes to positive change. We can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

So, we have to find a way to all just get along.

If you have read this far, it is likely that you believe this is possible. Surprisingly, considering the state we are in, you are not alone.

Maybe you believe that we have the tools and aren’t using them properly or we just haven’t yet discovered the right process. You might be almost at the end of your rope, but still hold out the faintest hope for progress. You might even be the kind of optimist that sees the small advancement in each new dialogue. Perhaps you think that if we take religion out of the equation, everything will be much smoother.

The Friends of Faith Summit has something for all of you. We were just as frustrated (and just as optimistic), and in response, we’ve developed new dialogue devices and a more effective process for communication between belief systems.

Our Selection and Conversation models are significantly different from prior interfaith dialogue and will give us a new chance at unity among belief systems. The Vision of Friends of Faith addresses three areas of traditional dialogue:

1. We will incorporate major and minor religions and spiritual and secular belief systems. The only prerequisite is a belief that transforms. The panel, chosen by experts in interfaith communication, will be as diverse as faith itself.

2. The panel will not be comprised entirely of religious professionals, but anyone transformed by their faith. Artists, business-people, scientists, and leaders in many areas of our culture will be invited as delegates.

3. Rather than seeking tolerance (that leaves everyone at arm’s length), the goal will be consensus. Our delegates will seek agreement on the experiences they hold in common—their personal journeys—and avoid argument over specific details, such as deity, doctrine, or holy texts.

Beginning in 2009, we will invite twelve well-known people of faith, from twelve radically different beliefs, to talk about their personal journeys. We will extend invitations to the broadest range of belief systems, including major and minor religions and their offshoots, and secular and spiritual methods. We will set an interfaith table for delegates whose lives have served humanity in many ways, and task them with finding language to get beyond our collective fear of other belief systems.

We can’t wait to see what they have to say.