Nova Scotia conference to discuss religious safe spaces in schools

When a spiritual diversity conference gets underwayWednesdayin Halifax, church leaders, university professors and young people will discuss the possibility of Nova Scotia schools giving more opportunity tostudents tofreelydiscuss their religious beliefs.

The two-day conference is at Mount Saint Vincent University and about 150 people are expected to attend.

Ronnie Lunn, the youth ministry co-ordinator at Saint Benedict Parish in Halifax, is one of three people speaking on the panel about how multi-faith literacy programs in schools and universities can help empower youth. Lunn is also a former teacher.

Understanding different religions

"I'll be talking a lot about my experiences as a minister in schools and the frustrations that I hear from students, feeling that they have a part of themselves and a part of their life that they have to hide in the name of acceptance or tolerance," Lunn said.

Lunn describes multi-faith literacy as two different things: anunderstanding of religions by the non-religious, and the understanding and appreciation of different religions outside of your own.

"Multi-faith literacy is not about conversion," he said."It's solely about understanding, respect and acceptance."

Lunn is not necessarily asking that religion be placed in schools in a formal way or in a separate class.

"But certainly within social studies, history classes, sociology classes, there's certainly a place for discussing religion in a respectful manner simply beyond knowledge," he said.

Build community, incorporate spirituality

A second panellist, Kiyan Sobhani, is a member of Halifax's Baha'i community. He has done a lot of work with young people. He is also a writer and entrepreneur.

For Sobhani, this idea of bringing spirituality into schools is not about incorporating a subject in class that teaches about the history of various religions.

"It's all important knowledge to have but the reason behind it is to build a community and incorporate spirituality into our everyday lives so that we can serve humanity," he said.

Nova Scotia students are already asked to understand and promote cultural diversity, equality and human rights, Heather Fairbairn, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, said in a statement.

Critical issues on the table

"This competency is woven throughout the curriculum and at all grade levels," Fairbairn said.

Aspects of spirituality are also addressed in a number of courses including Grade 11 studies about the Gaelic, Mi'kmaq, African-Canadians and Acadians, Fairbairn said.

Robin Arthur, the conference project co-ordinator, said the event will bring together people of different faith groups to discuss critical issues like injustices within a global society, religion and poverty and how different faith groups view the role of women in society.

"For each of these panels, we have either a Jewish rabbi, a Buddhist priest, a Christian theologian or a Muslim imam speaking from their faith perspective on these issues," he said.