On Labor Day, the All Believers Network is bringing together a dozen members of Hawai'i's major religious groups, including Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and Jews — as well as smaller faiths like Jainism, Sikhism, Sufism, Baha'i — to consider the topic of whether people of good conscience can make connections through different faiths.

Sister Joan Chatfield, a Maryknoll nun who is the executive director of the Institute for Religion and Social Change, is helping to organize the daylong event. She spoke from her convent in Manoa on the topic of the day:

Q. What was the thinking behind the symposium?

A. The idea is, with so much going on among religions, we don't really understand each other. It's being billed as an opportunity to hear from practitioners. Each speaker is a member of the religion they speak about. The point is to show that all people of faith and good will can find a common ground.

Q. You talk about moving from exclusion to inclusion in faith. What are some examples of exclusionary phrases in different faiths?

A. For example, evangelical Christians quote, "Only if you believe in Jesus are you saved."

Q. Do all religions suffer from exclusionary tactics?

A. No. The second part of the program has speakers from groups that are markedly inclusive.

Q. Why does exclusion happen?

A. Some exclusion comes from the earliest formation of religious groups. They tend to hold close to each other. Over time as they grow in numbers and build their own history, they can become more inclusive. ... When do any of us get any idea of who gets saved and who doesn't?

Q. How can we be good, faithful practitioners of a religion, yet make room for those whose religious views differ?

A. We're graced by living in Hawai'i; we have such a mixture of groups here — such variety! Everyone is in a minority. In that sense, we are gifted to have this climate of harmony. We're hoping this conference can identify Hawai'i as the interfaith harmony capital of the world.