Interfaith Relations in Ireland

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Ireland has rapidly become a multicultural and multiracial society. This has meant that a diversity of religions and ethical communities now resides in Ireland. Irish society has become colored, vividly, by a plurality of beliefs and practices expressed throughout the island. This recent phenomenon is due primarily to the influx of EU and non-EU immigrants. However, the phenomenal increase of followers of certain faiths is also due to a natural increase in population, in addition to the arrival of immigrants.   Since they have been in Ireland for a number of decades, second and third generations of diverse faiths have multiplied greatly in number. They have established a new life in Ireland creating, on a larger scale, cultural and religious plurality, as well as spiritual diversity. It means there is now an urgent need for sound interfaith relations based on reasonable and solid foundations.

It is generally accepted that if you have not already planned, you have planned your failure.  Since any mishandling could cause hurt and divisions, interfaith relations should be established on the basis of integrity and what is reasonable. Religious leaders have an urgent and important mission to fulfill. They must discuss the viability of a number of activities aimed at creating and maintaining strong interfaith relations.

The appointment of the new Irish Cardinal Dr Sean Brady, renowned for his great personal integrity, kindness, goodness and his hand of friendship across communities, could provide a new avenue in this context. Visits by religious leaders to organizations of people of other faiths can play a vital role in creating a significant threshold for interfaith relations. These visits can have a profound impact on theologians as well as on lay people.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Most Rev Diarmuid Martin, by visiting the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland at Clonskeagh in Dublin, has set an example of a new type of visit, which can serve the process of strengthening interfaith relations. He has also suggested organizing mutual visits to schools. There is no doubt that the first and second level education system at the moment presents certain challenges and difficulties for Muslims in Ireland. Such organized visits would be seen as offering mutual support and be another important way of strengthening interfaith relations.

Ireland is currently witnessing the extraordinary phenomenon of the setting up of a multi-faith school in Co Killdare. There a child will be able to study his/her religion under a collective umbrella. The planned existence of such a school proves that mutual co-existence of people of different faiths is viable in Ireland and, indeed, elsewhere.   In the near future it will provide this young generation with inclusiveness of a kind that is unique to them. They will be able to obliterate all barriers and apply that most inclusive word `WE’ to themselves. They will be taking on one common identity i.e. Irishness.

Interfaith relations could also be encouraged by inviting leaders and people of various faiths to attend events of local or national significance. Such functions would also more accurately reflect the plurality of Irish society as it is now, if community leaders from all faiths were welcomed and encouraged to take part. Such events would then provide an opportunity for mutual gatherings where gaps could be narrowed through close contact and for growing awareness.

Building trust is of major importance. Complacency will not help but integrity does, and it is the right way forward. That should not, in any sense, encourage the wrong expression of religious obligations and deep beliefs. On the contrary, it stresses the importance of establishing a subtle equilibrium, i.e. moderation.   It would be very naive to purport or pretend that all religions are the same. We should recognize and acknowledge the diversity of religions. But this should not lead us to deny what we have in common. Recognizing diversity and what is common should grow out of what we learn from reliable sources. But we are entitled to agree and disagree and no one should try to convert differences into conflict.

Members of all faiths should acknowledge the fact that as a result of the challenges all the faithful are facing, when adhering to their faith, sometimes they will fall short of their own ideals. Further, we should condemn all stereotyping. A crime is a crime whether perpetrated by a Jew, a Christian or a Muslim.   It should be recognized that what is needed above all is a need of knowledge of one another. Dialogue is a significant way of gaining and raising such awareness. But people can only gain from dialogue if it is based on mutual respect, openness and trust. In other words, people of all faiths should be entitled to live their faith with integrity and must allow others to do so. Interfaith dialogue should be conducted with compassion and a generosity of spirit. Religious fanaticism would be uprooted by such dialogue.

Dialogue should focus on what is held in common. One of the fundamental beliefs held in common by all faiths, and usually overlooked, is a belief in the brotherhood and sisterhood of all humanity. People of different faiths should see each other at all times as human brothers and sisters. Further common ground can be found in the code of morality found in people of different faiths. All religions make it an obligation to treat one’s neighbor well. All religions say ‘Love your neighbor’.  People of different faiths should work together for the common good. Cooperation with people of different faiths can take place in a wide range of fields. Issues of public concern encourage cooperation and can provide a wonderful platform for mutual recognition. Such issues need not necessarily be local. They can be international e.g. human rights, world poverty, global peace and environment. The support of just causes by people of different faith can create harmony and warm friendship between them. It bridges gaps, creates a better understanding and highlights the social conscience, which is deemed as another of the major common grounds.

One of the major challenges presented by this new Irish plurality, where different forms and shapes of traditions and customs have been become widely spread throughout our society, is ignorance, i.e. ignorance about the other; ignorance of other peoples, cultures and religions. That ignorance can lead to fear, but mostly fear based on false grounds. Such ignorance can only be overcome through dialogue, education and understanding. Such dialogue can be conducted in various ways; verbal dialogue and action dialogue. But all types of dialogue lead to a recognition, which is an indispensible factor in sound interfaith relations.   Interfaith relations are the cornerstone of positive integration and contribution. In their common interest, people of the various faiths in Ireland need to come together on friendly ground which is entirely transparent and based on mutual respect, equality and that freedom guaranteed by law.

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