Aug

10

Bahá’ís join Scottish inter-faith pilgrimage to the Holy Land

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Two Bahá’ís from Scotland joined some thirty pilgrims from seven different faith communities for a unique inter-faith pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Dr Maureen Sier, the Development Officer of the Scottish Inter-Faith Council, and Mr Justin Alae-Carew, an Edinburgh University student, were part of an initiative designed to increase understanding and friendship between communities in Scotland.

The ten-day journey, which received funding from the Scottish government, included sites of importance to the different faiths. On the fifth day of the pilgrimage, the group made a visit to the spectacular Bahá’í gardens on Mount Carmel in Haifa, surrounding the tomb of one of the Bahá’í Faith’s founders, known as The Báb.

“The beautiful and peaceful terraced gardens and the Shrine itself are open to all,” said Magdalen Lambkin, a Roman Catholic participant, “and as our guide shared with us the vision of Bahá’u'lláh, I felt that he had a poignant message for us today who are so often told, both explicitly and in ways more subtle, that we are in an era of a ‘clash of civilisations’. Bahá’u'lláh wrote of humankind, ‘Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye with another with utmost love and harmony with friendliness and friendship.’”

The idea for the pilgrimage grew out of a conversation between Scottish Council of Jewish Communities’ Director Ephraim Borowski, and Rami Ousta, Chief Executive Officer of BEMIS, the umbrella organisation for minority community organisations in Scotland, who were concerned that tensions in the Middle East may sometimes be an obstacle to the development of good relations locally.

The Very Reverend Dr Finlay Macdonald, principal clerk, and former Moderator of the Church of Scotland, and Na’eem Raza, Director of Meem, a diversity training organisation, both joined the steering group.
“It is deeply ironic that a land called “holy” should be at the heart of so much conflict” said Dr Macdonald. “I hope that our pilgrimage will be a journey into closer understanding, deepening respect and enduring friendship, and that it will contribute in its own small way to the peace for which we all pray.”

Dr Maureen Sier said, “In my day-to-day work in inter-faith I have often witnessed how profoundly deep dialogue can influence human relationships for the good and there were many opportunities for such dialogue to take place between all of us on the pilgrimage. The friendships that evolved, the learning that took place and the heartfelt longing to contribute to both Scotland and the world at large can only augur well for future inter-faith development.”

Having returned, participants have pledged to visit a wide range of organisations to talk about their journey, and, using knowledge and understanding gained during the trip, they hope to make a positive contribution to the development of good relations between Scotland’s many faith communities.

“I am not sure what, if anything, our visit will have done for the peace process in the Holy Land,” said Dr Sier, “but I do know that many people were deeply moved by seeing adherents of seven faiths, of all ages and background working together to promote greater understanding. We were a colourful and collaborative – and I believe controversial – collage of hope.”

Watch a BBC report on the pilgrimage

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