So there it is, that word. INTERFAITH. But what does it mean?
Interfaith refers to people of different faiths (ALL different faiths) working together and/or communicating with one another. By all faiths, I mean that the Abrahamic faiths are included (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Baha'i, etc), as well as those who stand well out of that, such as Buddhism, Taoism, agnosticism, the pagan faiths (of which there are many), etc.
The term used to describe Christians working with one another from differing Christian traditions, or even within all of the Abrahamic traditions, is ecumenical. While all ecumenical discussions are, by their nature, interfaith, not all interfaith discussions are ecumenical. You can talk about different Abrahamic faiths without mentioning the faiths that exist outside that particular belief system, but there is a greater dialogue which includes all those who are not Abrahamic or monotheistic.
When we speak practically, though, the term interfaith is pretty simple. Here at Patchwork Interfaith, it means that we are all welcome to believe what we believe, to experience what we experience, and to know what we know. We're free to express our beliefs in any way that is not violent or that removes those freedoms from others. The question to ask yourself is, "Does my practice of X directly affect others?" (As an example, if I am orthodox Jewish and don't eat pork, it does not directly affect anyone else but me. It is only when I attempt to impose that belief on others that it becomes problematic. I believe it was George Takai who said, "If you don't believe in gay marriage, then don't marry a gay person!") If the answer is no, feel free to move about the world!
Interfaith refers to people of different faiths (ALL different faiths) working together and/or communicating with one another. By all faiths, I mean that the Abrahamic faiths are included (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Baha'i, etc), as well as those who stand well out of that, such as Buddhism, Taoism, agnosticism, the pagan faiths (of which there are many), etc.
The term used to describe Christians working with one another from differing Christian traditions, or even within all of the Abrahamic traditions, is ecumenical. While all ecumenical discussions are, by their nature, interfaith, not all interfaith discussions are ecumenical. You can talk about different Abrahamic faiths without mentioning the faiths that exist outside that particular belief system, but there is a greater dialogue which includes all those who are not Abrahamic or monotheistic.
When we speak practically, though, the term interfaith is pretty simple. Here at Patchwork Interfaith, it means that we are all welcome to believe what we believe, to experience what we experience, and to know what we know. We're free to express our beliefs in any way that is not violent or that removes those freedoms from others. The question to ask yourself is, "Does my practice of X directly affect others?" (As an example, if I am orthodox Jewish and don't eat pork, it does not directly affect anyone else but me. It is only when I attempt to impose that belief on others that it becomes problematic. I believe it was George Takai who said, "If you don't believe in gay marriage, then don't marry a gay person!") If the answer is no, feel free to move about the world!
