Purpose:
The main focus of the Interreligious Table is to improve the knowledge and recognition of the city’s religious plurality. In addition, the Table organises events and initiatives to promote the positive interaction and dialogue between people of diverse beliefs and convictions.
Stimulus/Rationale:
In 2008, Unescocat started the ‘Table on Interreligious dialogue project’, which became effective in 2009. In 2010, the association Audir took the lead on the initiative and both the facilitator and the participants found that space relevant enough not to disappear and continued on a voluntary basis.
The participants of the different faiths participate not as representatives of a an association, but as 'wise men' of the different faiths or religions. It is therefore not a space for governance, or for coordinating agendas of activities or calendars, but for sharing the different points of view of the different faiths present in Salt.
In the case of possible misunderstandings or conflicts, this space of knowledge and trust could play a key role, where members could act as 'diplomatic agents', if necessary. Often, the spiritual dimension of the person and how this is articulated in community life is an aspect that is quite innovative at national and regional level. In the case of our municipality, having an interfaith space reflecting on the meaning of faith and its different expressions, is an element of relationship and mutual knowledge of these different religions.
Process:
The Roundtable on Interreligious Dialogue is a formed by a representative from the Municipality (from the Integration and Coexistence department) and by members representing the religious communities in Salt (Catholics, Evangelists, Muslims, and Sikhs). In addition, the Table has a coordinator who is also part of Audir Association: the UNESCO Association for Interreligious Dialogue.
There is a well-established cooperation between the different religious communities and associations that are part of the Table or participate in its activities, and the Municipality.
In the last years, the Table has focused its work on the public recognition of the different religious practices through several public actions. One example was the celebration of Pannikar's year in 2018, which included the organisation of a conference involving local youth who practice different religions (there was a representation of Catholics, Muslims, Evangelists, Sikhs, witnesses of Jehovah and Agnostics). Lead by the Department of Integration and Living together, the celebration counted on the participation of the Table.
The Table has also organised a week around religions, including guided visits to different places of worship, and presentations of the religious practices of the members of the different religious communities.
Another initiative launched by the Table is the Interreligious calendar, edited every year.
Impact:
The members of the Interreligious Table and the staff of the Integration and Living Together Department regularly evaluate the implemented actions. In 2019, the initiatives organised under the framework of the ‘Religious Week in Salt’ in collaboration with the Table, the opening and importance of normalising religious practice in a secularised society were very positively evaluated. The diversity of participants and the news that explained the activity in different media and local press were also positively assessed.
The activity of the roundtable does not have a translatable impact in terms of data, as this is not its objective. Its raison d'être is to establish a dialogue.
The Table is, indeed, a great collaborator in all those initiatives promoted by the Integration and Living Together Department (Pannikar year, interreligious calendar, different public manifestations that have a religious dimension, etc.). In most cases even if the initiatives are led by the City Council the Table is a main actor.
The Table faces some challenges. First, it is still very unknown (both internally at the city Council and to the whole society). Second, members participate on a voluntary basis and their commitment have been changing over the time.
