Faithbook<\/a>, a social page launched on Facebook, the widely popular social networking platform. The brainchild of a British Jewish organisation, the Movement for Reform Judaism, Faithbook was designed to bring people from different beliefs together on the internet, leveraging such Web 2.0 technologies as social networking. <\/p>\nIn traditional media, collaborations between religions are often limited to those in positions of responsibility \u2013 such as religious representatives meeting on television panel discussions. Now, the internet opens a forum for dialogue to the masses. Church, mosque, temple and synagogue goers can talk to each other directly without the mediation of their leaders.<\/p>\n
Supported in turn by the Muslim Institute, London, the UK\u2019s oldest Muslim think-tank, Faithbook promises \u201cto spark responsible interfaith dialogue across the UK and the rest of the world\u201d, using images, videos and commentary from people of all the major faiths. The director of the Muslim Institute, Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, added: \u201cIrrespective of whatever cultural baggage we carry, racial background or faith that we follow, we have to recognise that our creator is the same whatever we call him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The purpose of Faithbook is to counter religious extremism, which has the tendency to spread in the largely unmoderated virtual sphere. \u201cWe have got to combat that, and create a space where people who may not meet face-to-face can have a constructive debate\u201d, said Rabbi Shoshana Boyd Gelfand, executive director of the Movement for Reform Judaism.<\/p>\n
The alternative to constructive debate is clear elsewhere, even on Facebook. On the \u201cBoycott Islam and all things Muslim\u201d group, one finds none of the gentle niceties of Faithbook. The potential for online religious discussion, while present, is often in a very raw and emotional form. <\/p>\n
So far, the Faithbook page does seem to be meeting its constructive mission: abuse doesn\u2019t litter its pages, and its content is positive. Images on the site range from the Dalai Lama (one of the most prominent advocates of interfaith dialogue in the world today), to the Siddur, a Jewish prayer book. On the downside, the page claims only some 640 fans, which isn\u2019t very many given its recent publicity and Facebook\u2019s enormous reach. (By contrast, the group to \u201cstop Facebook closing down\u201d now has close to 2 million members.) <\/p>\n
Among the biggest challenges to growth is the fact that the Faithbook page, like many interfaith initiatives, has been implemented by the upper tier of religious organisations. The discrepancy between the views \u201cat the top\u201d and those of the masses was recently demonstrated by the widespread discussion provoked when Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams commented that shari\u2019a law (based on Islamic principles) should be integrated, to some extent, into British law \u2013 a view not necessarily shared by his congregations. One of the lessons from Web 2.0 is that some of the most effective movements grow from the bottom up with word of mouth taking place via blogs and emails.<\/p>\n
In spite of this, positive and cooperative online social networking between the faiths looks likely. The online religion sections of national newspapers in various countries are fast gaining popularity (there\u2019s even a blog<\/a> called Faithbook on the Washington Post\/Newsweek website), and the comments that follow faith-based articles are increasingly animated. Interfaith groups are expanding their online presence. The will to exchange ideas and find common ground is there.<\/p>\nJude Townend is a journalist currently working in the UK. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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