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Public policy and religious diversity: lessons from place of worship development

Public policy and religious diversity: lessons from place of worship development. February 2 nd 2011 RIIM -- Metropolis Policy Symposium Mosk Centre for Dialogue Heidi Hoernig Faculty of Arts – Research Services McGill University. Religious diversity & the public domain.

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Public policy and religious diversity: lessons from place of worship development

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  1. Public policy and religious diversity: lessons from place of worship development

  2. February 2nd 2011 RIIM -- Metropolis Policy Symposium Mosk Centre for Dialogue Heidi Hoernig Faculty of Arts – Research Services McGill University

  3. Religious diversity & the public domain • Why does religious diversity matter to public policy and public institutions? • How does it manifest? • How is it important? • What lessons can we learn across policy domains?

  4. How many secular upbringing and how many people had some element of religion in your childhood/ formative years? • How many people have attended: • buddhist temple ,christian church, mosque, mandir, gurdwara, synagogue • How many deal with religious diversity in your current job? • How many expect to be addressing policy or program issues dealing with religious diversity?

  5. Presentation outline • Religious community characteristics • Defining spatial needs • Place of worship development experiences • Three readings of places of worship • Implications for policy

  6. Resources: financial & human Demographic & spatial characteristics Religion & culture Religious community characteristics Religious community spatial needs Defining community needs

  7. Religious community characteristics & spatial needs Rel. community development experience Spatial context Social context Policy context Economic context Place of worship Development experience

  8. Buddhist Theraveda (1) Mahayana (2) Humanist (1) Muslim Sunni (7) Shia (1) Ahmaddiya (1) Sikh Nanaksar (1) Others (3) Hindu Various (6) Arya Samaj (1) Non-Euro Christian West Asian (1) Chinese (5) Religious communities

  9. Place of worship functions • Religious activities • Religious/commercial • Settlement/integration • Socialization/retention • Symbolic expression

  10. Long-term perspective • Variable (2 – 25 years) • Changes in community composition • Needs & priorities • Learning curve • Land use issues

  11. Evolution of places of worship Temporary Recycled New construction Expansion

  12. Religion, culture & place of worship development • Multicultural temporalities • Social activity patterns • Organization of space

  13. Multicultural temporalities • Calendars • Daily & weekly patterns • Annual patterns

  14. Religion, culture & place of worship development • Multicultural temporalities • Social activity patterns • Organization of space

  15. Social activity patterns • Attendance • Worship behaviour • Large religious events • Life cycle events • Religious education • Secular activities

  16. Religion, culture & place of worship development • Multicultural temporalities • Social activity patterns • Organization of space

  17. Religion, culture & spatial needs • Architecture • Common & unique spatial needs • Site design • Public space

  18. Inter/intra communitysimilarities & differences • Height • Residential facilities • Major challenge • 4/5 religions • Intra difference

  19. Search process Search process • Variability: assistance, duration, scope • Enabling/ Limiting: resources, land supply Criteria • Zoning/Affordability/ Size • Accessibility • Other site requirements/preferences

  20. Community consolidation process • Continuous act of creation • Uncertainty • Interethnic dynamics • Key to fund-raising • efforts

  21. Community capacity • Financial resources • Affiliation • Religious/cultural patterns • Community characteristics • Human resources • Cultural capital • professional expertise • Social capital

  22. Meeting spatial needs • Weak correlation of needs & difficulties • Cultural, social & financial capital • Variety of strategies • Compliance, avoidance, adaptation, accommodation, tactical

  23. PW development experiences • Evolving & dynamic • Spectrum of needs, resources & experiences

  24. Multiple readings • Positive values • Ideal characteristics of urban spaces • Integration of minority groups into society

  25. Sacred space Architectural asset Religious community centre Neighbourhood centre Expression of ethnoreligious identity Multiculturalism or cosmpolitanism Tourist or heritage asset Vehicle for social or community development Positive values

  26. Ideal qualities of urban space • Conceptualization of residential, mixed use/ commercial, industrial and green belt zones • Perceived value/ contribution to space • Perceived nuisance & mitigation

  27. Integration of minority groups • Religious vs. Secular • Religious minorities vs. majorities • « Visible » minorities vs. majorities • Immigrants vs. native-born • Ethnic minorities vs majorities • Social • Spatial

  28. Best practices • Address both land use AND social and political issues • Long-term perspective, holistic approach • Leadership • political, bureaucratic, religious community, professional planners • Communication, mutual understanding

  29. Practices • Places of worship as community assets • Community plan policy • Zoning by-laws, parking standards • Education & awareness • Inter-religious & intercultural dialogue

  30. Why does it matter? • Equity • Charter of rights & freedoms • Culture • Multiculturalism legislation • Intersectionality

  31. Lessons from PW development Equity • Discrimination • Different religious groups receive different treatment • Equity vs equal • Public vs private

  32. Lessons from PW Development Culture • Cultural accommodation • Liberal theory of multiculturalism • Chronopolis (parking) • Equity vs. Equal treatment (parking) • Diversity within religions

  33. Lessons from PW DevelopmentIntersectionality • Intersection of characteristics, needs and context

  34. Places of worship & public policy • Sites of new forms of multiculturalism • Gateways, sites and resources • communication, collaboration and intervention

  35. Traditional discourse on multiculturalism in Canada Newcomer Host society • Whose rights, under what circumstances? • Integration vs. Exclusion • Zone of negotiation, accommodation, “tolerance” • Boundaries and absolute limits?

  36. Religion, places of worship & new discourse Multiculturalism Public Private Household/ Family Intra-ethnic community Inter-ethnic Co-religious Minority-minority Inter-ethnic Min/majority

  37. Places of worship as gateways • Outreach • Variety of services • Mutual learning • Challenges • Public – open to all vs. religious membership • Early stages – variable stability • Not all are interested

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