Inter-Faith Relations in Britain Since 1970 — An Assessment - مرکز و کتابخانه مطالعات اسلامی به زبان های اروپایی

مرکز و کتابخانه مطالعات اسلامی به زبان های اروپایی

منو

" Inter-Faith Relations in Britain Since 1970 — An Assessment "
Ataullah Siddiqui

Document Type	:	AL
Record Number	:	1066904
Doc. No	:	LA110533
Call No	:	‭10.1163/157254310X517450‬
Language of Document	:	English
Main Entry	:	Ataullah Siddiqui
Title & Author	:	Inter-Faith Relations in Britain Since 1970 — An Assessment [Article]\ Ataullah Siddiqui
Publication Statement	:	Leiden: Brill
Title of Periodical	:	Exchange
Date	:	2010
Volume/ Issue Number	:	39/3
Page No	:	236–250
Abstract	:	This article argues that inter-faith relations in Britain are essentially inspired by the existential realities of a multi-cultural and multi-religious society. It argues that the earliest formal discussions between the followers of various faiths were motivated by their desire to ‘understand’ the beliefs and practices of other faiths. However these ‘engagements’ were confined to local and national secular civic bodies. The motivations behind these ‘engagements’ were essentially need-oriented rather than driven by religious motives. It also seems that the interest of successive British governments was to manage the migrant communities through an agenda based on ‘ethnicity’ and ‘race’ and the religious needs of these migrant communities were largely defined within that context. More recently the British state found it necessary to involve itself directly by funding projects of inter-faith nature. Churches, mainly the Church of England, have become over the years the mediator between the ‘migrant communities’ and the state. This ‘mediation’ is motivated by the churches’ evangelical outreach but also by humanitarian reasons. Due to internal and external factors, all three actors have, over the years, changed and adapted their positions considerably. This article argues that inter-faith relations in Britain are essentially inspired by the existential realities of a multi-cultural and multi-religious society. It argues that the earliest formal discussions between the followers of various faiths were motivated by their desire to ‘understand’ the beliefs and practices of other faiths. However these ‘engagements’ were confined to local and national secular civic bodies. The motivations behind these ‘engagements’ were essentially need-oriented rather than driven by religious motives. It also seems that the interest of successive British governments was to manage the migrant communities through an agenda based on ‘ethnicity’ and ‘race’ and the religious needs of these migrant communities were largely defined within that context. More recently the British state found it necessary to involve itself directly by funding projects of inter-faith nature. Churches, mainly the Church of England, have become over the years the mediator between the ‘migrant communities’ and the state. This ‘mediation’ is motivated by the churches’ evangelical outreach but also by humanitarian reasons. Due to internal and external factors, all three actors have, over the years, changed and adapted their positions considerably.
Descriptor	:	Christianity
Descriptor	:	Christian-Muslim relations
Descriptor	:	inter-faith
Descriptor	:	Islam
Descriptor	:	religion and state
Location & Call number	:	‭10.1163/157254310X517450‬