The lunchtime slot (1200-1400) is taken by Barbara and Arthur Winner (Leicester Bahá'ís) and Noel Singh (Policy Officer for Community Cohesion, Leicestershire County Council) as seen l-r in the photo below.
Just before 1800, I hear that a crew from BBC East Midlands Today is in Highcross, setting up to do a live outside broadcast. I set off to find them and let them know of our presence. It doesn't take me long as they're not far away, just at the top of the escalator leading in to John Lewis, beside a Santa's North Pole display. I recognise reporter Helen Astle. When it looks like they're set up and just killing time, I introduce myself to the producer. Of course I'm not expecting them to put us on live, but I do bend his ear about possibly recording a minute or so with us afterward. He tells me that they have a tight schedule and would be dashing off as soon as they'd finished filming, but that he'd take my contact details back to his offices. Well, that's fair enough - I'm not going to gatecrash the broadcast (even I know my limits, faithful reader!)
I'm pleasantly surprised though when, about half an hour later, he pays a visit to our exhibition, compliments us on it and gives a few tips about what we would have to do to get it featured on East Midlands Today if we were to put this on again. We'd need to have an event, something visual and exciting - a multicultural group of children singing and dancing would be a surefire bet by the sound of it.
A few things to comment on from the collection of entries in the reflective journal written by those helping out on the stand, which I've transcribed below. That business of people quickly scanning round the display just to make sure their faith is mentioned was commonplace. Most did this for Christianity, but it wasn't the only one. The other is the piece about the event at South Leicestershire College. Not all inter faith encounters are positive or happy. I heard more in the days to come about this one (it's mentioned again in the entry for tomorrow).
"Footfall was huge! Lots of surreptitious glances. We had a few good conversations and gave away several keyrings. One lady stopped to check there was a banner for Christianity as she was concerned that sometimes Christianity is not properly represented. A pity we haven't got a supply of biscuits and coffee; after two hours I'm really quite cold and hungry!"
"Strange how people see the exhibition! Some seem to think you're 'selling' something! One comment from someone today was 'Just making sure Christianity is there!' I enquired further and the person obviously has some sort of agenda - other religions used as a political tool! Enjoyed the cold November day standing on cold marble floors. Good experience."
"What a great way to reach out to people, in what seems to be the new place to worship, the shopping mall. Most people just pass by, some glance at the display, but then a few do stop and ask questions."
"A very pleasurable experience, have met some wonderful people - the other volunteers as well as the public. Had a very warming discussion ten minutes ago with a young man who wasn't sure he was religious, but was looking forward to his journey of discovery! Have enjoyed my two 'shifts' this week. Well done again George & Leicester Council of Faiths!"
"One visitor said, 'The stand is more important than all the shops around it.' This is such a great opportunity to engage our community with the many faiths around it."
"At a very different event in South Leicestershire College for Inter Faith Week on Thursday. My fellow student and I witnessed something which we found quite alarming. The morning was designed so that the students of the college could come and talk to members of different faith communities and learn about them. From the perspective of students that study many religions it was fantastic to see Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam and Humanism coming together to inform but accept other religions. However, we were alarmed to see several members from the Christian stand repeatedly hassling the man from the Jewish stand. They tried to force their ideas upon the man by telling him he was wrong and that if he took and read the New Testament they were handing out a veil would be lifted from his eyes and he would see the truth in Christianity. This was not the point of the morning or of Inter Faith Week and we were very disappointed to see this happen. The Jewish man remained gracious throughout but he should not have had to deal with it."
"I valued the opportunity to engage with the people and had two interesting encounters. The first led to some discussion about the quality of religious education in Leicester secondary schools with a Muslim man in his late 20s, the second with a man from Switzerland (or Sweden?) here on a visit to investigate other faith networks in the UK. As I experienced last year when there are opportunities for dialogue with people it makes the time with the stand seem worthwhile. However mostly passers by appear little interested in taking information or talking to us. Despite this I am happy to be involved and glad to support Leicester Council of Faiths."
"I echo what was said by [the contributor immediately above] and would like to add that the man from Sweden (?) spoke of a Catholic church and a mosque to be in one building (I think that was amazing!). The other person who stopped said he was a pupil at Moat Community College about 18 years ago and in RE they were taught about Christianity and Islam but he'd have liked to learn about other religions too. Always a pleasure to do something for the unity of humankind!"
No comments:
Post a Comment