Virtues are part of being human – they are “values in action”.
At this year’s Auckland Inter-Faith Council’s Dialogue & Learning event, Margaret Mohamed introduced the participants to the Virtues Project which was developed in Canada 35 years ago and offers tools for personal growth and healing, and a path to deeper meaning, purpose and joy in our lives. The quote on the Project’s website sums it up: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” (Margaret Mead)

The goal of the afternoon was to encourage the participants to engage in honest dialogue with each other and at the same time to adopt a special set of rules for the communication. It was about speaking a language of respect, courtesy, trust and assertedness, and then experience how the power of words could bring out the best in everyone.

Virtues are often considered to be the golden thread of all religions, and so it was good to see how well the idea was taken on by the attendees who were of many different religions.
When the participants were asked to name someone they admired for their virtues, many named religious leaders as well as partners or family members. The difficult part of the workshop was for many to point out one single virtue they would give another person based on their answer to certain questions.

All agreed that seeds were planted and that the project gave much food for thought.
When we next try to describe someone, we hope to be using virtues such as enthusiasm, service, purposefulness, justice, unity, nobility etc.

BM