The UK’s All Faiths Network organized an interreligious and intercultural evening of music, dance and food to bring faiths together in appreciation of the diversity of the religious community of England.
The program included a Sufi vocal group, a Hindu dancer, a Christian psalmist, a Bengali Muslim singer and a program of song, poetry and chant performed by Sikh children’s group. A young Christian girl of 4 was so inspired, she wanted to sing about her own faith and she was also given the floor. Interspersed were short presentations by 10 different religious leaders on the importance of respect for religious diversity.
Navleen Kaur of the Holland Park Gurdwara said, “In the Sikh faith, ‘Chardikalas’ is when your spirit is forever rising. Truly living and working with people of other faiths goes beyond any differences. We train ourselves to rise above duality, inequality and hatred. We recognize the human race as one, there is no difference as we stand together in prayer as one human family.”
In a symbolic show of unity, each religious leader lit a candle to demonstrate that faiths can live and thrive together without conflict and in a spirit of creation and cooperation.
The program was organized by All Faiths Network and the Church of Scientology London and was held at 37 Fitzroy Street, a listed historic building built in 1791. Once the home of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, it now houses a museum on four floors, illustrating Mr. Hubbard’s life and works.
