[REGISTRATION OPEN] Women and interreligious dialogue: experiences from Barcelona
On Friday 4 April at 5.00 pm, the Urgell Civic Centret will be hosting the dialogue space “Women and interreligious dialogue: experiences from Barcelona”, promoted by the OAR and the Women's Interreligious and Interfaith Dialogue Group. The participation of women in the interreligious dialogue will be valued. The aim of the event is to share experiences and reflections in order to give visibility to and promote the role of women within the different religious and spiritual traditions that coexist in the city.
Members of the Women’s Interreligious Dialogue Group of Barcelona will be participating in a dialogue space that will examine the role women play in faith and religious practice, as well as the initiatives underway in their communities and the city. The reflections resulting from this dialogue will be compiled in a publication that will also include longer testimonials from the participants.
The Religious Affairs Office (OAR) and the Department of Interculturality and Religious Diversity, have been pioneers in giving visibility to women within Barcelona’s different religious and spiritual communities. For many years now they have been working to highlight and promote the role of women and women’s contributions within the various religious and spiritual traditions that coexist in Barcelona. With an inclusive perspective, they have acknowledged the importance of women’s leadership and their social impact. The various initiatives that have been carried out over the years reflect the commitment of Barcelona’s institutions to advance towards gender equality and to recognise the valuable contributions made by women in the religious and spiritual sphere. HERE you can access interviews, activities and resources produced by the OAR with a focus on women.
The Interreligious and Interfaith Dialogue Groups have been running in the city’s districts for many years now. In this regard, responding to a need expressed by participants in OAR activities for a more permanent space of interaction among women associated with different religious and spiritual traditions, the Women’s Interreligious and Interfaith Dialogue Group was established last year. This cross-cutting space enables women of different religious and spiritual traditions to engage in dialogue about topics of mutual interest and promote joint initiatives in the city. The first few meetings of this group have resulted in a series of texts that have enabled the launch and promotion of this activity. The texts written by GDI participants, which are in first person, offer their perspectives on the role of women in their communities and within their faith. These materials have been put together and will be added to with this special meeting to generate a space for dialogue that is open to members of the public.
It is essential that we move away from traditional stereotypes about relations between women and religion if we are to build a truly inclusive dialogue and offer a perspective that steps outside the more conventional imaginary. In this regard, the Women’s Interreligious and Interfaith Dialogue Group (GDI) stands as a driver of change that works to promote equity and recognition both within religious communities and in society as a whole. Their work not only promotes mutual understanding but also contributes to the creation of joint initiatives that seek to strengthen the role of women in their communities. These initiatives are not only important for the women who participate in them, they are also valuable for the general public, as they help to break down stereotypes and challenge the monolithic narratives that often marginalise women’s voices in the religious context. Their objective and their work help to enrich the religious landscape in Barcelona, promoting a culture of respect, diversity and collaboration between different traditions.
So, the activity “Women and Interreligious dialogue: experiences from Barcelona”, promoted by the OAR and the Women’s GDI will be a space for inviting women participants in the GDI to share their accounts, knowledge and experiences. The activity will be led by Mónica Cornejo Valle Who holds a PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology and lectures in Anthropology of Religion at the Complutense University of Madrid, where she also directs the Anthropology, Diversity and Integration Research Group (GINADYC). Her research has focused on popular religiosity among rural Catholics and the eclecticism of new spiritualities, as well as religious activism and the relationship between gender and religion.
The following people will be participating in the event: Elisabeth Lheure, member of the Bahá’í Women’s Association of Barcelona ; Mercè Puigdelmàs Vilaró, member of the Barcelona Centre Protestant Church; Carme Ruiz Marquès, member of the Permanent Commission of the coordinator Alcem la veu; Fàtima Ahmed, co-founder and president of the Women’s Intercultural Dialogue Association; and Janaina Minelli de Oliveira Ramos, president of the Centre Espírita Amalia Domingo Soler.
A DIGITAL PUBLICATION will be produced off the back of this meeting, directed by Mónica Cornejo, which will be based on the texts written by various women members of the group. The texts will provide an insight into the situation of women in Barcelona’s various religious communities, and an opportunity to reflect on how their role as a woman influences their religious or spiritual identity, offering a plural and enriching view of women’s religiosity and spirituality.
WOMEN AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE: EXPERIENCES FROM BARCELONA
- DATE: Friday 4 April
- TIME: 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm
- VENUE: Urgell Civic Centre – Auditorium (carrer d’Urgell, 145)
- REGISTRATION: Free activity. Limited capacity, prior booking required a activitatsoar@bcn.cat. Please give full name and entity (where applicable).