A multi-faith society is one where people with different faiths live together. Living in a multi-faith society can bring with it benefits and challenges.

Benefits include:

• It can promote a better understanding and tolerance towards the beliefs of others.
• Mixing with different religions can lead to a better understanding of different viewpoints.
• Sharing ideas and customs can build up a varied cultural life within a community, learning from other religious traditions can enhance peoples' life experiences.

Challenges include:

• Religious tension can be caused if too many religions live closely together.
• Religious extremism can occur, leading to violence against other groups.
• Some find it difficult to understand different points of view, which may lead to prejudice and discrimination.
• Some religious groups may feel that they are less valued than others in the community, or even ignored.

TASK:

What do you think is the most important benefit of living in a multi-faith society? What is the most challenging aspect? Explain your answer.