News
Simon Cohen says the financial crisis is the least of our worries — it’s the spiritual one we’re all fretting about
Simon Cohen
November 20, 2008 12:11
Simon Cohen
November 20, 2008 12:11When the going gets tough, the tough get praying, according to Simon Cohen, the founder of interfaith communications agency Global Tolerance.
Mr Cohen says that many of us are more concerned about a spiritual recession than a financial recession. His assertion is based on a survey carried out by Faithbook, a new interfaith page on Facebook that is run by Global Tolerance.
A Faithbook poll reveals that 71 per cent of those surveyed believe a spiritual recession is more worrying than a material one. And more than 80 per cent believe that we should consider the financial crisis as a global economic watershed, with moral and social opportunities.
"It seems that there are more important things in life than money," Mr Cohen, 29, tells People.
"There is so much negativity around at the moment concerning the credit crunch but different faith communities don't think that change has to be negative. For many people, as long as our basic human needs are met, the financial watershed is seen as an opportunity for hope and this is heartening."
More than 25 per cent of respondents say they have prayed more since the economic downturn. He says: "I would be very surprised if the subject of peoples' prayers was not about asking for support for those that are really on the breadline."
Faithbook, which combines images, videos and content from various faiths' texts, was set up by the Reform Movement for Judaism to mark the launch of their new gender-neutral siddur. It posts commentaries from the nine major faiths in the UK. Mr Cohen, who lives in Finsbury Park, has a theology degree from Nottingham University. He set up Global Tolerance five years ago.