Learning and dialogue

Although faith is a fundamentally private matter, religious practice is a highly social activity, deeply intertwined with friendships, family and other community relationships. Religion and faith bring moral and practical structure to people’s lives in the community with others. Faith institutions also provide spiritual, psychosocial and practical, tangible support on matters essential for health and well-being.

Because of the highly visible and social nature of lived faith, people have good reason to fear social sanction if and when they question the practices of their faith communities. This fear of social sanction sometimes inhibits or constrains learning, development and critical thinking. As a result, harmful assumptions, traditions and practices can easily be misunderstood as based on sacred texts or religious beliefs and be passed from generation to generation unexamined. Faith to Action Network works to create safe spaces where people of faith, religious leaders and religious institutions can explore the root causes of intra- and interfaith tensions that hinder family health and well-being; women’s rights and gender justice; and peaceful, just and inclusive communities.