Some of the people of faith I’ve been collaborating with to activate our respective traditions to engage the SDGs for a more sustainable urban future for all everything alongside UN-Habitat and the World Economic Forum have just published a new report. The report is titled, “Faith in Action: Religion and Spirituality in the Polycrisis.”
The Executive Summary makes the claim that “Global leaders cannot afford to ignore the impact of religion and spirituality on today’s interconnected challenges.” …that’s a bold, and I sense, is an accurate statement. Dr Christine Schliesser is quoted in the report, saying:
Religion and its institutions such as temples, churches, or mosques are as old as humanity itself. No other force known to human culture is older, rooted deeper in the human collective consciousness, or is able to connect humans with one another more extensively. Up to this day, religion is a reality for the vast majority of the people on this planet. And this reality shapes how people think, how they act – and not act.
Christine Schliesser . On the Significance of Religion for the SDGs: An Introduction . 2023
“Polycrisis” is a relatively new word, coined by French complexity theorist, Edgar Morin to describe massive multilayered rupture caused by many different problems happening at the same time, multiplying the effect. Polycrisis is kind of like “the perfect storm” on a global scale… the simultaneous occurrence of several catastrophic events.
The new report focuses on four crises where faith-based organizations and businesses are partnering on projects to have an impact.
- Environmental Care
- Health and Healthcare
- Inclusive Communities and Resilient Cities
- Technology Governance
Toward the conclusion of the report it offers three key drives and questions necessary for developing meaningful collaboration with faith traditions.
- Organizational readiness for engaging with and respecting differences: “How can organization foster an environment that encourages engaging with and respecting differences while also addressing the inherent challenges and conflicts that such engagements may bring to the surface?”
- Alignment on shared goals: “How can businesses and faith actors authentically integrate values in the operations and decision making processes of an initiative or partnership without alienating stakeholders who may have different or no religious affiliations?”
- Public perception and trust: “How can faith-based initiatives educate the public about their faith and values without being perceived as proselytizing, especially in secular or multi-faith contexts? How can faith-based initiatives maintain authenticity and adherence to their spiritual values while actively managing public perception and countering media misinformation?”
This report is outstanding, I commend it to you. If you are part of any kind of faith community, I suggest you share this report and talk about it as a group, wondering together how you and your local community might seek flourishing for all and everything as a faithful expression of your faith or spiritual tradition.
Peace, dwight
