By Rev'd Dr John Fox, Senior Chaplain at University of Canterbury

Because the University of Canterbury is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, I was (very kindly) invited to consult on appropriate celebrations in "the faith space"—and I learned a lot.

The first thing I learned is that everyone is kinda muddled about the public recognition of faith. Yes, Christianity is important (Canterbury College has "ecclesiastical connections" after all, although they're carefully vague); but what shall we do about other faiths? International students? Secular people? It all gets complicated very quickly, and so it is easier for some people either to ignore faith entirely, or to reduce it to something non-threatening ("Costumes and Music of the World"). To its credit, UC acknowledges the key role played by faith in its history, and continuing partnership with faith groups, including staff and students now. So we tried to value everyone, with a Service in the Cathedral for Christians, and a multifaith event for everyone else. Good call, UC: faith matters.

Second, I learned the importance of respecting everyone's sacred values, and not doing too much. I asked Christians, Muslims, Jews, Bahai, Sikhs, Quakers and Buddhists what they'd turn up to. Everyone agreed: no interfaith service. No skating over our differences. But we all like food. And we all were willing to listen. So, "Interfaith event, TBC?" became "Breakfast in Student Union": and negotiating the demands for different religious dietary requirements, and kosher plates, and tofu eggs was totally worth it. We turned up. We ate. We listened. And we celebrated.

We disagree about the nature of God/the gods/the Universe. And our differences matter profoundly to life, death, and life after death. But if we took that as read, we were able to focus on the things we do agree on. The importance of spiritual values. Respect for students of faith. The value of religious conscience. The value of family and community life, humanity and good neighbourliness. That isn't everything. But it isn't nothing either. We agree in large part on important parts of the campus we want to live in, and the mutual respect, good disagreement and honest dialogue we'd like to have.

And on the subject of honest dialogue, we had it. The Jewish representatives gave full rein to their genuine pain, sense of alienation and threat, given the brutal attacks in the Gaza Strip in October, highlighting the growing climate of anti-semitism. The Muslim students too stressed the profound importance of the Holy Land: and as one might expect, the atmosphere grew thick with ancient and profound pain. As I was throwing in an unscheduled moment of silence for peace, I reflected on two interlocking realities: we can get so far simply by treating our neighbours as truth-seeking beings made in God's image. Yet and still, we cannot heal everything, reconcile everything, or manage everything. Honest dialogue, and passionate disagreement will occur. And we should not be threatened by them.

I want all my neighbours to repent and believe the good news. I want the whole world to know the Christmas Truce that Jesus brings: God touching all men and women of goodwill. Yet and still, the fullness of that peace belongs only to Him. And as we pray "thy kingdom come", we still have to get along with our neighbours. We still have to listen to those very different than we are, and find a way of serving and bearing with one another. And we share a country, and a little blue planet. So, we must start somewhere. I thank God we are in the same room. That we can hear one another. That we are at peace. I thank him for my tofu eggs. 

Rev'd Dr John Fox