Communities across the world meet regularly for SR, and with the support of organisations such as the Cambridge Inter-faith Programme (CIP) and the Rose Castle Foundation, the practice has spread far and wide and has taken on new and exciting forms.
Beyond Muslim, Jewish and Christian dialogue- SR has been adapted to suit the contexts of many different communities which have used it as a tool for inter-faith engagement. In the UK and worldwide, the practice has involved Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus, Daoists, and many other faith communities who use the tool to deepen friendships and understanding within their communities.
International- In a world that is ridden with prejudice, misunderstanding and conflict, SR, particularly when done as a long term practice increases understanding between participants who begin to relate to one another in a way which puts religion at the heart of the relationship. Although SR started off in America, through programmes such as the CIP Summer School, religious leaders from around the world have taken the practice to their communities. This includes communities which are affected by religion-related tensions and conflict such as Nigeria, Palestine, Israel, Pakistan and India.
Religious literacy in schools- At a time when religion plays a significant role in global politics, fostering religious literacy amongst students has never been so important. Organisations such as CIP and the Three Faiths Forum have delivered SR workshops to students at both primary and secondary school, engaging them with the texts which are at the heart of different religious traditions. It equips young people with skills in respectful dialogue and introduces them to the idea of ‘better quality disagreement’. CIP has also been a key supporter of a research project called 'The Story Tent', an exciting way of introducing young children to religions and inter-faith dialogue.
And much much more- The possibilities for SR are endless. As a tool that can benefit a wide range of contexts, it has been practised in hospitals, chaplaincies, prisons, businesses and various local community contexts.
To find out more about setting up SR where you are, visit our Resources page, or fill in the contact form to find out more.
Read about some of the latest research on SR carried out by researchers at the Faraday Institute looking at Science and Faith.