Questions

The speakers were drawn from different countries, religions and philosophies. What they have in common is an attitude that is eager to question and inspire, a desire to change commonly accepted norms and the way we live in relation to each other and our personal selves. Many are involved in political activism. Their generosity and their dreams of social change give them a willingness to consider the emotional and intellectual tangents that spring from mainstream religious and philosophical thought. They are also prepared to take potentially uncomfortable decisions – an attitude that is essential in order to revolutionise everybody’s society.

By asking each of them to reflect on the same set of questions, the intention was to open up contrasting points of view as opposed to conflicting ones – to generate and exchange knowledge and to draw attention to the hybridised forms that circumvent fixed notions (both cultural and institutional) of the world of religion and spirituality as it is lived out by individuals.

• How can one communicate one’s religious views to others in this present time?
• What must be communicated?
• Where does the border lie between the need to share and to keep one’s views private?
• Are the existing structures vital anymore?
• At what point do other beliefs become challenging to your belief?
• How can creative thinking help us understand each other’s differences?
• Is there a way possible for the different religions to live side by side and still communicate their views openly with each other?