Exploring Interfaith Networks in the Context of Development: Key Considerations

Abstract

This chapter departs from the argument that religions and religious organization have long featured in development debates and practice. Yet, there is a lack of adequate attention to religion by policy-makers and development practitioners, despite available information on the relevance of religion to society and politics. The Sustainable Development Goal (Number 10) of achieving equality within and among nations can be a more inclusive process by taking advantage of religious networks and communities. This is one of the most accessible sectors through which developmental processes can reach and include people at the grassroots, the marginalized and those in rural and peri-urban areas. This chapter applies Exploratory Social Network Analysis (ESNA) to examine the United Religions Initiative (URI), in order to highlight important factors, challenges and opportunities to consider in approaching sustainable development through interfaith networks. The dynamics discussed include the spiritual and value foundations of such networks, connectedness, network size, nature of affiliations, brokerage, and centrality. The chapter shows that while the opportunities for reducing inequality and achieving social transformation through such networks are endless, some of their characteristics reveal critical challenges around power, equality and inclusion. For interfaith networks, responding to these questions should also mean reducing internal inequalities based on religious or spiritual belonging, and achieving more inclusivity by being more accommodative of religions that are not mainline, politically influential or visible in the public sphere.