Recommended Dialogue Events

Do you remember the incident of the naming of the Teddy Bear, and the furious reactions that followed? This incident and other similar ones that have hit the media in recent years have done wonders in undermining my own confidence in facilitating interfaith dialogue, and I am sure I am not the only one. The fear of offending unwittingly has become such that the temptation is to remain on safe grounds and avoid any potentially controversial subject. Even people who have gained facilitation experience through their professional background are likely to be worried that they 'will put their foot in it'.

Yet, I can think of occasions when genuine dialogue has taken place, when common grounds were identified and differences discussed, when people met as people (rather than 'the other') and when lasting friendships were built. 'Face-to-face' encounters between people of different faiths, when set in the right setting and handled in the right way, can be truly life-transforming.

So how can we go about boosting our confidence and skills in facilitating interfaith dialogue? This November, the Ammerdown Centre (located in idyllic surroundings 11 miles south of Bath) will be hosting a weekend course on 'Interfaith Dialogue Facilitation Skills', in partnership with the St Ethelburga's Centre (London) and faithnetsouthwest. 

Centre Director, Mrs Benedicte Scholefield .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Other Dialogue Events in November

The Christian Muslim Forum will be boosting confidence and skills at this regional event during the same week in a different part of the country: