Tony Miles - Methodist Minister and Media Chaplain, from Central Hall, Westminster.

Yesterday was World Religion Day, Vanessa – the theme for this week’s Pause for Thoughts. Now, just after Christmas my family crossed the world via the internet to talk to my daughter, Hannah. As you do, when one of your number is spending Christmas 5,400 miles away! We were a bit envious, because on a dark, chilly night, a room full of relatives could see and hear Hannah wearing sunglasses and sipping a cold drink by a pool in LA! But what was really amazing was that my 7-year-old niece took all this in her stride. She chatted away to Hannah without questioning the eight-hour time difference or how the link up was possible. My 70-something mother in law, on the other hand, was flabbergasted at being able to see and speak to her jet-setting granddaughter on a wireless laptop.

You know the world's really shrinking when you can get thousands of friends on social networking sites or see pictures of what’s happening all over the planet, or get stunning film footage from the depths of the ocean, or the South Pole – like on Frozen Planet. It's all fantastic! Which makes it even weirder that we still find it difficult to talk face to face with those who live close by. Apparently, only one in 8 people know their neighbours! And a high proportion of elderly people only have a TV for company. And even though we're supposed to be so multicultural, lots of us have no idea what our neighbours really think and believe. 'Religion’ has become a bit of a dirty word in some quarters – the ‘R’ word – a ‘no go’ area for discussion. But this means I'm left swallowing stereotypes fed to me by friends or the media, without getting an informed take on the subject.

All this at a time when we’re told nearly three-quarters of Brits think we’re a less religious place now than the last time we hosted the Olympic Games*1. It may be true, but no one’s asked me. And how can we know, if we don’t talk respectfully and tolerantly talk to each other about what beliefs and values we have, or haven’t got!

As a Christian, I’m conscious that Jesus commanded me to Love my neighbour as myself.’ But it strikes me, if I’m to love my neighbours, I do need to KNOW them! And if I know them, it might help me love, respect and understand people further afield as well. Maybe today, I’ll have a chat with a neighbour. We might even get onto the ‘R’ word! … And if I knock on their door at a bad moment, well there’s always the internet and web cam! For that, I just need to avoid bath time!