what is interfaith
Interfaith is
not random mixture of different faith
not negation of one's own faith
is an effort to find commonalities with others and promote harmony ,peace
should not be an effort to create walls , it should be an effort to create bridges
should increase faith , should promote scientific thought , discourage superstitious behavior,increase positive co-operation , energize people to activity , provide relief and hope to distressed , help create holistically better society
Need for interfaith
Many society are multi-faith and their constitutions are faith neutral . Equality of each faith/tradition before law is a wonderful thing . However in reality , it also results in absence of or neglect of faith in peoples individual lives. In many cases it does create lot other problems in relationships/professions/occupations/governance /finances etc. Interfaith in such cases help people re-discover their own faith . Of course existing mechanisms of each faith can and should continue as it is in this directions .
This forum definitely does try to fulfill this role in its unique way .
Technological progress, political revolution and economic prosperity has created an unprecedented democracy in each area of life (including spirituality / religion) . Inter-faith learnings can exhort faith leaders and practitioners to incorporate scientific / intellectual part of life in the faith's practices and rituals .
Further many a mono-religion societies do get into unscientific patterns . Inter-faith inspirations can help even these societies improve their structures and practices as well.
Finally spirituality is core part of life (as Gem told and its fact that spirit is there even when man is not thinking or aware about it .) . If anything like this help improve this core part , its definitely better. Documenting these core teachings for self and posterity is an important obligation for current generations.
Argument that religion has created problems in the past does not hold good because we do not do it logically in other areas of life . 2 world wars were fought between people of same faith (mostly excluding japan) viz Christianity . Religion was simply not the cause of it. Many a subsequent wars / recessions / conflicts /exploitation /corruptions/pandemic etc are simply not created by religions . In fact the opposite could be a reality . Absence of credible real religion may have contributed to all such issues . God simply does not need any religions. He can manage anything with extreme ease .It is for our benefit that we may need it.
Commonalities
There are many like
moral tenets expressed in religion neutral language
protection to weaker
supersoul / cosmic spirit as ultimate sovereign God in every religion
Existence of leading personalities in each religion symbolizing the abstract God in human in every religion though each faith can be free to call it son of God,messiah of God or God himself/herself .
In view of larger commonalities , the difference in symbols and terminologies are more a trivia than substance. While we can take pride in symbols of religions it does not entitle you to treat other faith as inferior as core teachings of your own faith does not permit it .
Of course we all are in a way working on this already in limited way already by being active member trying to impart and imbibe the real spirit of life through mutual peaceful posts.