Lesson List

Lesson 1: The Background and Foundation of Faith for Rights

Lesson 2: Using the Faith for Rights Toolkit

Lesson 3: Your Role as a Facilitator

Lesson 4: Planning and Preparation

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The Facilitator Guide: Lesson 3: Introduction to the 5 Principles

Five Fundamental Principals

“Mankind is at loss. Except those who believe in doing righteous deeds, constantly recommend it to one another and persist in that vein.”
Qu'ran 103, 2-3

The Beirut Declaration on Faith for Rights contains five fundamental principles to guide its implementation. These are the cornerstones of the Faith for Rights vision and its implementation tool, the #Faith4Rights toolkit. These principles are:

  • Transcending dialogue to action
  • Avoiding theological divides
  • Being introspective
  • Speaking with one voice
  • Acting in an independent manner

The activity below contains videos and questions that will help you to prepare to use these principles as you facilitate Faith for Rights sessions. As you read the text of the five fundamental principles, refer to the image for questions and video content to guide your understanding. Record answers to questions in your Facilitator Journal.  Click on each ‘?’ icon to begin. 

Full Text of the Five Fundamental Principles

  • Transcending traditional inter-faith dialogues into concrete action-oriented Faith for Rights projects at the local level. While dialogue is important, it is not an end in itself. Good intentions are of limited value without corresponding action. Change on the ground is the goal and concerted action is its logical means.
    • Complete the following activity to practice transforming constructive dialogue into productive action:
      1. Select one of the eighteen Modules within the Faith for Rights toolkit.
      2. In your Facilitator Reflection Journal, list the major discussion points you would like to review with your group that are relevant to the Module.
      3. For each discussion point, create an invitation to a specific action that group members can take.
  • Avoiding theological and doctrinal divides in order to act on areas of shared inter-faith and intra-faith vision as defined in the present Faith for Rights declaration. This declaration is not conceived to be a tool for dialogue among religions but rather a joint platform for common action in defence of human dignity for all. While we respect freedom of expression and entertain no illusion as to the continuation of a level of controversy at different levels of religious discourse, we are resolved to challenge the manipulation of religions in both politics and conflicts. We intend to be a balancing united voice of solidarity, reason, compassion, moderation, enlightenment and corresponding collective action at the grassroots level.
    • Complete the following activity to practice avoiding theological and doctrinal divides:
      1. Select one of the eighteen Modules within the Faith for Rights toolkit.
      2. Read through the Module.
      3. As you read through the Module, make a list of theological or doctrinal divides that may come up during discussions or activities.
      4. For each identified divide, create a three step plan to avoid that topic, or to steer the conversation away from it. 
      5. Tips on how to navigate sensitive topics, including theological and doctrinal divides, can be found in Lesson 4 of this facilitator guide.
  • Introspectiveness is a virtue we cherish. We will all speak up and act first and foremost on our own weaknesses and challenges within our respective communities. We will address more global issues collectively and consistently, after internal and inclusive deliberation that preserves our most precious strength, i.e. integrity.
    • Complete the following activity to practice personal introspectiveness:
      1. Select one of the eighteen Modules within the Faith for Rights toolkit.
      2. Read through the Module.
      3. After reading through the Module, reflect on your personal weaknesses, doubts, or questions that pertain to the Module and write them in your journal.
      4. After recording your personal struggles, expand your reflection to include ways your community or the global community may struggle with the principles within that Module and record them in your journal.
      5. Discuss with a family member, friend, or colleague the things you observed and wrote down.
  • Speaking with one voice, particularly against any advocacy of hatred that amounts to inciting violence, discrimination or any other violation of the equal dignity that all human beings enjoy regardless of their religion, belief, gender, political or other opinion, national or social origin, or any other status. Denouncing incitement to hatred, injustices, discrimination on religious grounds or any form of religious intolerance is not enough. We have a duty to redress hate speech by remedial compassion and solidarity that heals hearts and societies alike. Our words of redress should transcend religious or belief boundaries. Such boundaries should thus no longer remain a free land for manipulators, xenophobes, populists and violent extremists
    • Complete the following activity to practice denouncing hate and incitements to violence:
      1. Consider the religious backgrounds of the members of your facilitation group.
      2. Reflect and record principles of compassion and solidarity that are similar amongst your participants. Some examples may be kindness, charity, or anti-violence.
  • We are resolved to act in a fully independent manner, abiding only by our conscience, while seeking partnerships with religious and secular authorities, relevant governmental bodies and non-State actors wherever Faith for Rights coalitions are freely established in conformity with the present declaration.“
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