8. world faith development dialogue - fridirici

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Establishing the WFDD

From Lambeth Meeting in 1998

± UK NGO

±

Executive Office of the World Bank ± Independent, non-profit research group in the

USA

Our own story reflects the tension between

faith and international development at large.



Navigating Tensions around Religion



Tensions:

Development Perspectives

In the World Bank, early discussions about working with

religions prompted much tension. The following reflects some

of the questions that arose, instructive for broader discussions Religion was seen as divisive: conflicts around religion,

tensions within religions, issues of separation of church and

state, issues of voice and representation

Seen as simply too complicated to deal with



Tensions:

Development

Perspectives

Religion was seen by some as essentially

dangerous: some arguments: religious leaders

and institutions are opposed to modernization,reproductive health rights; religious hierarchies

seen as patriarchal, excluding women or

opposing womens rights

On health, questions arose as to whether workis evidence based or grounded in faith. Is

there a hidden motivation for work, notably

conversion?



The Tensions


Religion was seen as defunct or declining in

importance, thus low priority; the secular

myth still persists in some quarters

Bottom line: not a priority



The Tensions


The Religion

and Poverty

Blindspot.



The Tensions


In many cases religion tends to be seen

through personal and emotional eyes

Parallels with gender discussions in early

years

Lessons from that experience: importance of

having solid evidence, taking the time to

convince and work through doubts



Worlds in Tension? Faith

Perspectives



Faith communities have expressed an equal

range of doubts about the developmentapproaches and world

± Far-ranging critiques of the development processes

± Suspicions

±

Neo-liberalism, injustice ± Materialism

± Concern about Effects

± Debt, environment, changes brought by modernization

± Lack of Understanding

± Economic Theology, Ethics

± Clashes of civilizations

± Tensions around issues of money



The Faith and Development

Intersection

For all the tensions and mistrust the

intersection is real.

Religion is. Not about norms.



Faith and Development: a Stock-

taking: past, present, future Missionary past, traditional practice, religious

origins in religion: Damascus, early hospitals

Colonial period leaves a marked legacy Post colonial: turbulence

Conflict situations as a special challenge

Mosaic has emerged; complex, not wellmapped or understood

Global health context, poverty challenge has

special importance



Hypotheses and facts: quantity,

quality, reach Data issues where do religious networks fit

in global and national care systems?

Better quality? True or false?

Reaching the poorest? True or false?

Hypotheses: bias against, not a fair share

Issues of addressing huge diversity



Community Approaches

The faith picture is far more chaotic and organic than

the development industry expects and would like it

to be. This is true for all communities and

community structures, but perhaps even more so

for the faith world. Bureaucracies want order and

structure. They also want fast results. Moving faster

is likely to be less effective in the long term, seen

from the community perspective. It is essential totake into account how communities see realities

and their priorities.

Mark Webster Nov 2008 interview

http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/essays/view?author=1813&project=23



What does the WFDD do?

Research.

± Faith in terms of both:

Institutions

Communities

Methodology: Cornerstone is the interview

with the practitioner.

Release reports and organize consultations.

Sectoral and regional approaches.



Caveats and Approach: Our

lessons learned Diversity

Terminology

Ethics and values are intertwined in the debates Religion and culture

Development is also a complex world of institutions and ideas, in flux and with many

different approaches Local and community anchor



I deas on the paths forward

Strong country focus is a prerequisite for real

progress

Evidence amassing and using Discernment and political antennae

Dialogue on tough issues

Purposeful thinking on networks

Interfaith?

At the table or on the menu?



More resources

Two books of case studies, most recent

Development and Faith: Where Mind, Heart

and Soul work Together

Berkley Center Regional and Issues reviews,

practitioner interviews;

http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu

Newsweek/Washington Post On Faith: Faith

in Action, weekly column

World Bank, Development Dialogue on

Values and Ethics (DDVE)

8. world faith development dialogue - fridirici

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