David Goodall, Southampton Itchen’s Parliamentary Candidate, was very pleased to have been invited to speak to Southampton Fellowship Dialogue Society. The main goal of the Society is to organise various religious, cultural and social activities, and conferences among all types of religious and ethnic groups to support and advance the harmony and cooperation among religions and faith traditions.
During the evening David spoke on how to create a fair and green Britain and he highlighted the following four points:-
After the speech the members of the society asked a number of wide ranging and at times challenging questions on subjects from MPs expenses, to how to improve the democratic process, to taxation and to how to solve the Middle East problems to name but a few.
The evening finished with a buffet style meal and more inform discussion about the subjects raised during the evening. The society quite rightly believe that the way to create a better community as a whole is through discussion and fellowship, and regardless of cultural background sharing a meal together is a common experience which can bring people together.
Commenting on the evening David Goodall said:-
“In both my visits to the Fellowship Dialogue Society I have found them very welcoming, and interested to listen to all that the visiting speakers have to say. And they are right in their belief that the starting point to create a better society is better and more dialogue between the various groups in society. And by this I mean not just religious and ethnic groups, but also between rich and poor, young and old, creating dialogue and better understanding can only help to improve the world live in.”
Fellowship Dialogue Society is a non-profit, multi-cultural, faith based organisation whose purposes are spiritual and peaceful and it was founded in May 2006 by a group of volunteers comprising of business people, academicians, and students. They believe that in a world where even the farthest point is within an arm’s reach, it is impossible to live anywhere without experiencing diversity. So in order for everyone to live peacefully, it is important for individuals to rise above differences that drive us apart or against each other. And that means that respecting religious plurality and dialogue is the key to world peace.
Fellowship Dialogue Society’s mission is to serve societal peace, love, and friendship by striving to bring forth the common values of humanity; values such as tolerance, respect, and compassion. So they acknowledge the importance of spreading these most significant values within the UK’s diverse communities, hoping for all to take them on as a common virtue. In order to build a better future, the Society will work hand in hand with other communities and groups that recognise the same mission and uphold the same values.
They are dedicated to finding and celebrating the common ties that bind us as brothers and sisters and to fostering understanding, tolerance, respect, and love towards our fellow human beings by sharing cultures and spiritual traditions of the world’s sacred religions.
Their principles can be summarised as follows:-
If you wish to learn more about the Society visit their website.