Inter-Faith Dialogue in Support and Protection of Places of Worship?

The article explores the tensions involved in effective partnership working between places of worship, authorities and security agencies in the context of the living of religious freedom explored in relation to the inward and outward dimensions of the security of places of worship. In particular, it examines the place of inter-faith dialogue in protection and support of places of worship, including dialogues that arise more from the “internal” concerns and impetuses of the religious traditions and communities that are involved; those which arise more from a more broadly civic inspiration, but within which the places of worship then participate; and those that take place with security agency and police force personnel who may or may not properly understand the significance of places of worship as understood by those from within the traditions and communities concerned, but who have a wealth of practical experience in other spheres of security from which it is important that places of worship are ready to learn.