Spirituality Professoriate - Spirituality in Higher Education - UCLA
Alternative spirituality and new religious movements (nrms)
description
Transcript of Alternative spirituality and new religious movements (nrms)
Boundaries not barriers
The Church of England and other faiths
National Policies
Inter faith policy and new religions/new spirituality policy are different at NATIONAL level in the Church of England
We have formal relationships with other members of the ‘nine’:
Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism,
Baha'i
Involving what?
Christianity and other faiths Engagement Advocacy Dialogue Exchange Diplomacy Sharing Debate Friendship, hospitality, mutuality,
faith-sharing
New Religious Movements
NRM portfolios
The NRM umbrella covers everything else De facto New Religious Groups Personal Development Movements Pagan traditions Alternative spiritualities Alternative spiritual practice Atheistic belief and morality systems Extreme political groups Organisations offering NRM services
and ceremonies
How do we relate to the NRM world?
Inter faith: basis of engagement Historic Leadership Conformity Common elements Deeply rewarding, but often difficult Some NRMs show some of these elements,
some have none of them
The weddings project?
NRM policy We have NO formal engagement with
NRMs, why? 3000+ groups want formal access change fast not accountable difficult to monitor
What then?
We encourage informal contacts with NRMs
Knowing neighbours Getting info Removing suspicion Supporting families Open door Appropriate engagement
The Good Stuff…
The Good Stuff
In addition to free calendars… Many peaceful and friendly Good, helpful contacts Enable pastoral care Mutual boundaries
The Bad Stuff
Church of Celestial Light
Redeemed Christian Church of God
Church of the Holy Blood of the Lamb
Holy Spirit Church of Love and Fellowship
The Bad stuff
Unnacceptable behaviour Harm Exploitation Hostility Two-faced Contrary to the gospel
Boundaries not Barriers 1peopleWhat do boundaries do? Protect from harm Protect from exploitation Protect the vulnerable Help leavers
Boundaries not Barriers 2Christian faithWhat do the boundaries do? distinctiveness, integrity and
authenticity avoid compatibility issues insist on Christian values set apart from racist and
supremacist groups
The network
Every diocese should have an NRM/AS adviser for pastoral support
INFORM provides information INFORM provides access to
counselling, legal advice etc
AR provides specialist advice eg ecclesiastical law
Policy
No formal engagement, only informal contacts
No access, advocacy, Listen, encourage, support
informal engagement Use INFORM for information No suppression of groups
Resources
Sense Making Faith www.spiritualjourneys.org.uk
We provide
Information Guidance Pastoral care Negotiation Support Access to specialist ministries (eg deliverance)