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Faith and belief engagement
February 3, 2022 by Jen Swan 4 Comments | Category Guest blog, Our work
This week is interfaith harmony week, Sara Thorpe guest blogs about the Scottish Government’s newly formed faith & belief team.
New Team and Strategy
Modern Scotland is a multi-faith society but it can be a challenge for some faith and belief communities to make their voices heard. It can also be difficult for policy makers to have an in-depth understanding of the needs of faith and belief communities, given the range of views on particular issues.
To address these challenges and ensure we engage effectively with faith and belief stakeholders, a new faith and belief team has been set up in the connected communities division, reporting to the Minister for Equalities and Older People. The team will develop a new strategy for faith and belief engagement aiming to:
- work closely with stakeholders to promote interfaith dialogue and relations
- help ensure the voices of faith and belief stakeholders are fairly represented in policy development
- support faith and belief communities to be active partners in Covid recovery
Faith and Belief in the Pandemic
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the central role that faith and belief groups have in Scottish society. Many have been incredibly active, working with Local Government and Third Sector organisations to respond to the needs of their local communities. Faith and belief stakeholders also worked with Scottish Government to develop COVID-19 guidance for places of worship – a complex task given the diversity of practices and activities that take place within these buildings.
These experiences showed there is scope for government to work more closely with faith and belief groups to deliver on shared priorities. This also prompted important questions about the relationship between government and faith and belief communities and how this can and should operate in the future.
Faith and Belief in Scotland
The landscape of faith and belief is evolving in Scotland and it’s important that our new strategy reflects those changes. Recent data shows an increase in the number of adults who now have no religious belonging, to just over half the population.
Whilst some Christian churches continue to see a decline in numbers, there has been growth amongst the Muslim, Buddhist and Pagan faiths. There are trends towards a more secular society overall, but also towards a greater diversity of faiths, traditions and non-religious belief groups such as Humanists, who are included within our remit.
Of course, the engagement strategy will also need to reflect on the tensions and challenges that can arise from faith and belief in society. We must have a balanced view of the impacts of faith and belief in society, recognising the potential for divisive and harmful effects and how we respond to these, as well as the huge positive contributions that so many communities make.
Next Steps
As we develop this strategy, we will engage widely with colleagues inside government and with faith and belief communities across Scotland, seeking to help build closer connections between policy makers and communities. The result should be stronger policy that works for everyone
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Jen, your blog post provides a compelling insight into the Scottish Government’s initiative to engage with faith and belief communities, particularly in light of Interfaith Harmony Week. The establishment of the new faith and belief team within the connected communities division signifies a proactive approach to addressing the challenges faced by these communities in having their voices heard and their needs understood within policy-making processes.
I appreciate how you highlight the pivotal role that faith and belief groups have played during the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing their active involvement in community response efforts and collaboration with governmental bodies to develop guidance for places of worship. This underscores the importance of fostering closer partnerships between government and faith-based organizations, especially in times of crisis.
Your acknowledgment of the evolving landscape of faith and belief in Scotland, including the increasing diversity of religious affiliations and the rise of non-religious belief groups, demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the societal shifts occurring within the region. By recognizing both the challenges and opportunities presented by these changes, the proposed engagement strategy aims to promote inclusivity and understanding across different faith and belief traditions.
It’s commendable that the Scottish Government intends to engage extensively with both internal stakeholders and faith communities throughout the strategy development process. This collaborative approach reflects a commitment to building bridges between policy makers and communities, ultimately leading to more inclusive and responsive policies that serve the needs of all citizens.
Thank you for shedding light on this important initiative and for highlighting the significance of faith and belief engagement in shaping a more cohesive and inclusive society in Scotland.
Very keen to make contact with the new team.
Hi Satya, I’ll share your contact details with the team.
Sounds like a good idea. May the values of the team embrace the words on the ceremonial mace – wisdom, compassion, justice and integrity.