Faith Junction questions

These are the questions that were used as starting points for the Faith Junction interviews. They were formulated by members of the Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh faiths from the Slough Faith Partnership.

•    1. Questions of belief.
What do you believe about (some of) the following?
God, human accountability, doing good, heaven, hell, rewards, punishment forgiveness.

•    2. What is the significance of Sacred Buildings?
Do they matter? Are they necessary? Are they a community focal point?

•    3. Teaching and Practice
What differences are there between what your faith teaches, and the way it is practised in the community? How does your faith adapt to changes in society? Are there areas of faith that should change, (we live in a different time now), or are the faith precepts “once and for always”? Are sexual issues a faith ‘problem area’? Is change always a bad thing? Is change ever a good thing?)

•    4. Superstition & Tradition
Are there areas of your religion that you feel are really a superstition? Are there traditions in your religion that you are uncomfortable with?

•    5. What are the positive elements of your faith that give you help, encouragement, or inspiration?

•    6. Are there any negative elements of your faith that cause you to lose heart, or make you depressed?

•    7. Are Clerics necessary? Can your faith do without them?

•    8. Is there a sense of calling in your religion? Is this something that applies just to leaders, or to everyone?

•    9. Love and Forgiveness:
How compassionate is your religion? Is there a way for communities to act that shows love and forgiveness in action? Is rejection ever the answer to a member of a faith community?

•    10. Do you feel that the general public understands your faith? What aspects of faith are misunderstood?

To what extent are any misunderstandings the responsibility of the faith community?