Should Religious Leaders promote Interfaith Sentiments?
My personal opinion. It is absolutely fine for political leaders of a country to wish people who follow different faiths within the country their special occasions and events. However, it is not okay for religious leaders to do it. They can have respect for it but not celebration and acceptance. Because then you are accepting that your faith might not be the right one.
Now, I am at best a deist myself, as I have mentioned before. When it comes to Christianity I find value in its wisdom and hold it to a higher regard than the rest. I am on a journey let's say. So, I am not one to wave its flag to defend it - as it would not be authentic, and merely a point scoring exercise amongst Christians. Disingenuous. But I would expect more from a spiritual leader of a church.
Maybe the idea from the CoE is that we be inclusive to all other faiths in order for them to accept Christianity along the way. But I do not think it is a strategy that is working.
In this episode below I talk with Gavin Ashenden about such issues: