We dont do social:

1
We dont do social Scripture and tradition as
the basis for faith based social
involvement Greg Smith (Centre for
Institutional Studies in the University of East
London) Phone no. 01772 827987 Email
greg_at_maister-smith.fsnet.co.uk
2
This paper is based on an analysis of nearly 100
in depth interviews carried out by myself and
colleagues in the course of a JRF funded study on
the theme of Faith in Urban Regeneration The
report of this project has just been published
under that title. (Farnell et al.. Policy Press
April 2003) and a summary of it appears on the
JRF web site (www.jrf.org.uk)
3
The title of this paper is drawn from an
interview with an Anglican clergyman in a parish
where Muslims were a numerical majority. He told
us Now I did meet an Imam earlier than that when
I was first in the place and I though Id better
introduce myself and he just said to me, Well,
to be honest, I dont do social. By which he
meant he did not want to get involved in things,
and I thought, well, fair enough.
4
Government now keen to involve faith communities
in partnerships for regeneration and social
welfare Many faith groups are involved in social
action for example in London in 2002 a survey
documented 665 organisations who claimed nearly
70,000 users for their community activities, and
the involvement of over 8000 volunteers. But
many are not involved, or operate their
programmes "underground" from their own
resources.
5
The likelihood of partnership is inversely
proportional to the level of the communities
social exclusion, greatest for CofE, other
mainline churches, then evangelicals and new
churches, Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus, BM
Pentecostals, most sectarian groups and Muslims ,
. Resources and especially useful public
buildings are an important factor There are
some theological correlates but these tend to be
implicit and around ethos rather than worked out
from Scripture or doctrine.
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Common Implicit themes .across faith communities
include ValuesPeace.. Justice,
ShalomEquality, Community Life context and
perceived needs of the local people Love of
neighbour motif Made explicit by reference to
Scripture..
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Common Area of Tension / Debate Location on
continua between Holism -
dualism Universal openness -sectarianism/separati
on Appropriate use of sacred spacewithin 1km a
mosque and a church had problems with youth
club. Holistic approach made explicit by
reference to Bible (incarnation, Jesus and the
poor) and Quran..sharia law..traditions of
Medina/ mosque etc.
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(No Transcript)
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Sikhstalked about Temple v Community Centre no
one quoted scripture one story about
openness..of the gurus.. reference to ritual
reading of the GGS main links to the tradition
and Sikh identitye.g. wearing kirpan equality a
strong theme.. langar sewa norm of voluntary
service equality of religions The miri-piri
concept..
10
(No Transcript)
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Hindus talked about Temple v Community
Centre No reference to any scripture. Some
talk of rituals and culture and
festivals transmission to next generation of
identity,culture, language One person talked at
length about karma but rejected it's fatalism
and promoted a self realisation faith as a driver
of enterprise
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(No Transcript)
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Muslims Talked about Model of mosques in the
time of the prophet.. Medina community The
prophet as an honest businessman Islam as
peaceful and tolerantand open (in the context of
9/11 etc) Islam as the right way to live without
sin.. personal transformation as a result of
faith Allah as judge.. moral behaviour
apologetic in terms of science
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(No Transcript)
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Christians talked More and more explicitly from
doctrine and Scripture Incarnationearthing the
faith Good Samaritan story, Matt 25 etc. Jesus
and the option for the poor Model of NT
church Eschatology and the kingdom of
God Biblical vision of justice, peace and the
redeemed city
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What I'd like to see is ..There is a passage in
Zechariah, where it talks about the streets of
the new Jerusalem being places where old people
with sticks can walk freely, where children can
play safely, and that word safely is really
really important, just the environment is well
being, a beautiful place. God's creation, trying
to encourage recycling (we've got a recycling
bank as well,) just a clean environment it is
safe and clean Baptist Minister Talk about
housing and the Biblical vision, if you look at
any stories about houses, build houses with a
garden, preferably with a tree in it, that's the
Biblical vision of 'Shalom' ., and it's about
safety, people want to feel safe in their homes
they want to feel safe in the streets they want
to feel safe when they go shopping they want to
feel safe when they go to the mosque or to the
church and religious people, churchy and all
other faiths, feel their centres are vulnerable
to attack- and we all talk about solidarity with
each other, protecting each other. So I think,
while segregation is a reality for many people,
we're talking about solidarity here, standing
with each other, looking for each other's
safety. Methodist Minister
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Why were Christians able to talk more
explicitly ? Longer track record and discussion
of social action principles ? Theologically
trained leaders involved in social action ? More
included in and familiar with structures and
politics of mainstream society ? Rapport with
interviewers and common first language and
discourse patterns
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THE END
IS NIGH