A sppech at the iftar

Iftar July 15^th

Salam Aleichum

I am honoured to be speaking tonight. I have been following the Ramadan tent on Face Book and looking forward to coming and joining with you. Thank you for this opportunity and for your hospitality.

My theme tonight is dialogue and I begin with a quote from Pope Francis Evangelium gaudii

238

A little about myself and then I will talk about the Westminster cathedral interfaith group and Conversations for the Soul.

I was born in England but lived in Johannesburg until the age of 25. I was educated at St John’s College, an Anglican school but we learnt nothing about other faiths. I often say apartheid was a massive success in some ways as real conversation between black and white never happened, It was not until I was in charge of the libraries in Soweto that I engaged in dialogue with educated librarians of African, mixed race and Asian background. I recall a conversation soon after I started.

“Mr Woodhouse you’re a good man” “I try to be, Mr Makudu” (note we always called each other Mr this or that never first names) “You will never understand us because we speak English to you and you do not know what we say about you in our own language”. Very true.

Another life-changing moment. I was invited to tea with Mr Pewa, who was the doyenne of the library service and due to retire. I was presented with tea and condensed milk which I somehow managed to drink. “How many rooms in this house, Mr Pewa” “4” How many people live here?” “16” “Why?” “They have nowhere else to go” “But you are due to retire you and your wife should liv ein comfort now”. I went home and told my Mum that I could no longer live in South Africa where the elderly were not respected and people were homeless.

So I came to London and shortly before I married Liz I became a Catholic and this year we celebrate our Ruby wedding. When I worked in Wandsworth libraries, I worked with a good friend and a fine man Zia. He tried hard to convert me to Islam but we did have some wonderful conversations. He did not want to know what I thought about the faith, he wanted to know what Rome taught. As a result I realised I know nothing about Islam and so the Westminster cathedral interfaith group was founded 10 years ago.

We began by studying Islam with the wonderful Dr Chris Hewer and went on to consider the documents of the church and “Meeting God in friend and stranger” the Bishops conference document (worth a read). We have visited mosques, temples and synagogues and had many fine speakers. This year we welcomed the first Imam to the forces who answered our questions with great patience and care. We are mostly Christians but welcome all.

Tomorrow we will be discussing with our humanist friend Jeremy Rodell the question “Can you be spiritual without being religious?” We meet in the Hinsley Room next to Westminster Cathedral in Morpeth Terrace on most third Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m.

Later this year we will again meet our friend Raheed Salam who is a Muslim worker. I have some fliers if you are interested.

Once I had retired from the library I was able to go to Heythrop college to study part-time for a M.A. in Christianity and Interreligious relations. Here we studied the relationship between Christianity and other faiths in particular Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. I have always found that my many interfaith meetings have led to many contacts and indeed friendships.

Last year I began going to Conversations for the soul in the East End, firstly at the Christian/Muslim forum and then at Whitechapel Idea store. The idea grew of starting these conversations in South London and eventually 2 meetings were held at Streatham Islamic centre (the converted fire station). 2 further meetings were held at the SGI Buddhist Nam Myoho Penge Kyo, 1 Bernays Grove  Brixton which has the great advantage of being near Brixton station. The evening begins with refreshments and then we set ground rules e.g. confidentiality, no attempt to convert, listen. We then go into one to one conversations choosing a topic from this excellent booklet which covers everything from food to violence and suffering. I would so much like to have more Muslims involved in these conversations. The booklet comes from St Ethelburga’s centre in the city famous for it’s dialogues in the tent.

I wonder why we do not get more Muslim involvement. We are all busy people but I have found that my own faith is deepened by having to explain my position and l learn so much from the people I meet. It does require trust and understanding. I am hopeful that we will be able to set up these conversations at a mosque in South London later in the year. In the meantime we are at the Buddhist centre Tuesday September 16 and Thursday November 6

7 – 8.30 p.m.

Light refreshments available from 6.45 p.m. Again I have a few fliers so see me afterwards!

I close with more from Pope Francis. The Popes have done so much to foster dialogue and if your local Catholics are not dialoguing with you, you need to ask why this is not the priority for them that the Popes have stressed! If you have not read this document I recommend it – it’s like your Dad giving you the best advice and it’s easy to read!

250. 252. 253.