In my stronger moments I imagine St Albans as a City of sanctuary in which Baha’is, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs and the other religions represented here spending quality time listening to one another as we share our equally valid explanations of our God experiences.

No longer will we politely ignore one another, or worse still denigrate the sacred truths of the other religions. Instead we will share our different insights into sacred 'truth' in a spirit of co-operation and celebration, without any emphasis upon trying to convert others to see things 'my' way.

I long for the time when religious people will have the courage to abandon any traditions that divide by declaring who in 'in our tribe' and worse still, 'who is out of our tribe'.

It could be a City in which the wisdom within all the religions will lead us deeper into divinely inspired inclusiveness.

Imagine the impact that the religions represented in St Albans could make by working together to welcome and support both those who are homeless or hungry already living in this district, and the all too few refugees escaping the brutality of war now being 'assigned' to us.

By recognising, dignifying and respecting our different sacred insights we can better do the work of God (by what ever Name we use).

St Augustine said “We cannot do it without God and God will not do it without us.” And we will do the compassionate Kingdom of God as we work better together.

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