Sometimes we need a little reminder of the good that can come from faiths uniting together for a better world, and that the common foundations underpinning every religion are harmonious.

Here’s the unfortunate truth: the good stories rarely hit the news bulletins. The News at Ten never opens with the leading headline that today, in many locations around the globe, everything was normal and a bunch of people from diverse faiths lived and worked alongside one another harmoniously and peacefully. Instead, it is the stories of atrocities and acts of terror committed ‘in the name of religion’ which are widely reported and subsequently debated. However responsible the reporting, the hyperbole that follows often goes on to shape a skewed image of what religion stands for.

Within a week of his election in 2013, Pope Francis met with leaders of non-Catholic Christian religions such as Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus. During the meeting the pontiff highlighted the importance of furthering respect and friendship between men and women of different religious traditions. Later that year he expressed his concern that ‘authentic religious spirit is being perverted’ in many parts of the world, that ‘religious differences are being distorted and manipulated … leading to conflict and violence’ and that ‘terrorist groups are twisting religious beliefs’.

So, how can we address these increasing concerns and make a concerted effort to understand and learn more about each other’s beliefs, and recognise the common foundations that exist across faiths? How do we challenge assumptions, establish some commonality, and develop greater acceptance and understanding of one another’s values?

From schools and offices, to religious groups and local communities, there is no time like the present to make an effort to reach out and get to know more about the religions that surround us in our everyday lives.

As an employer there are lots of ways to engage with the diversity of faiths in your organisation. Here’s our starter for ten, with a few ideas for both the short term and the longer term:

  • Consult with your workforce, and ensure that you know what faiths are represented within your organisation. Beyond that, make sure that you have a solid understanding of their faith requirements, based on fact rather than assumption. If you don’t know, just ask.
  • Create your own organisational diversity calendar. Ensure that it isn’t just the Christian festivals that are observed and celebrated, but also remember the dates that are important to those colleagues from other faiths.
  • Empower your workforce to educate each other on their values, cultures and traditions. This doesn’t mean thrusting religious convictions upon one another, but creating fun initiatives and events to learn a little about each other’s religious practices and beliefs, thereby fostering a respectful understanding.
  • Consider your workplace environment, from dress code to office banter. Ensure that nobody has a reason to feel like an outsider, or uncomfortable, simply because of their religious views and practices.
  • Ensure that you have fully embraced the faith requirements of all your employees, regarding time and space for prayer.
  • Don’t be a bystander – if you see something that looks like religious discrimination, take appropriate action to ensure it is nipped in the bud.

Faith or no faith, none of us live in a bubble. Religion surrounds us, and in many different formats. Above all, religion universally stands for acceptance, inclusivity and peace, and there’s a lot to be said for all three.

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