Canon Andrew White Letter to Joint Faiths Celebration
Message from Canon Andrew White read out to the recent ‘Joint Celebration of Holy events of the Three Faiths of Abraham’.
‘Greetings from Baghdad, I am so sorry that I am unable to be with you today especially as my great friend and member of my board Dr Raheem Kahn is behind this event.
Today you come together as members of the three great monotheistic faiths, Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Together we have one great thing in common we all believe that G-d is one. We all believe that G-d is part of our life and we believe interfaith activity does not make us weak in our faith it should makes us stronger and indeed more orthodox in what we believe and practice. Unlike many in the West I do not live and work with those who do not believe much. Most people believe firmly in their faith. Yet they are serious about engaging with the other. (Photo Link)
New Vision Amid the Economic Crisis
While the G20 Summit was meeting in the Excel Centre and violent demonstrations were disturbing the City of London’s banking sector, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) was holding a conference with civil society and faith-based groups in the House of Parliament’s largest committee room, entitled, ‘New Vision Amid the Economic Crisis’. This contrasted the moral vision promoted by civil society and faith based groups with the pragmatic approach of the G20 Nations’ Summit. Many in the session echoed the ‘Put People First’ demonstration theme that this was a time for a new perspective and not just a return to ‘business as usual’. In the lead up to the G20 UPF had issued a Statement emphasising the need for ethical change:
‘If there is to be lasting change, the G-20 must acknowledge that the current financial crisis did not happen by accident, and it was by no means inevitable. The root cause of the problem has as much to do with moral, indeed spiritual failure, as governmental or financial mismanagement. For this reason, improved fiscal, economic and trade policies alone are not enough. The attitudes and behaviour of people, institutions and even entire nations must change.’
UPF Statement for the G20
When the leaders of the G-20 convened in Washington DC last November, they committed themselves to “lay the foundation for reform to help ensure that a global crisis…does not happen again.”
If there is to be lasting change, the G-20 must acknowledge that the current financial crisis did not happen by accident, and it was by no means inevitable. The root cause of the problem has as much to do with moral, indeed spiritual failure, as governmental or financial mismanagement. For this reason, improved fiscal, economic and trade policies alone are not enough. The attitudes and behaviour of people, institutions and even entire nations must change.
The social sphere that comprises business, trade, and finance is embedded in a wider culture and ethos that, during the best of times in human history, provide the moral and spiritual framework within which we, as human beings, live day to day. Thus, the G-20 must engage in deeper reflection on the moral and spiritual infrastructure that forms the foundation of life in the world. We take an enormous risk when we either ignore or de-value that reality.
Unity for Peace and Prosperity
UPF Glasgow Branch
This was a promotional event to showcase the work the ‘Glasgow Peace Federation’ ( the Glasgow branch of UPF ) have been doing over the past year.
Time for change: Break and Build
UPF South London Branch
Well over 50 people attended and were very impressed by the talks of our speakers Dr Lance Gardiner, Mrs Lorraine Chatfield and Dr Iftikhar Ayaz this Saturday. Dr Gardiner spoke on “crises and change in the credit crunch era”, the present economic situation and its cause; basically greed and recklessness were mentioned. The solution would be a more spiritual culture, a return to fundamental values, such as being responsible, valuing the family and creating a community spirit.Does Satan Exist?
An interfaith meeting held at the Pillowshield Community Centre in Glasgow on 22nd May sought to explore the vexing question as to whether Satan actually exists.
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