"FORGIVE? FORGET? WHY I STILL TEACH THE HOLOCAUST"

At the University of Leicester's Chaplaincy Centre this lunchtime, for the summer term lecture sponsored by the World Faiths Advisory Group (WFAG).

The World Faiths Advisory Group exists to promote understanding and co-operation among faith groups on campus, by

• exploring spirituality in a multi-faith context
• welcoming students and staff of all faiths
• working towards equal opportunities in relation to all faith groups

This lecture is part of WFAG's programme of encouraging people of different faiths associated with the university to meet, mix and get to know each other better. Stephen Foster (Co-ordinating Chaplain) tells us that WFAG recently organized a "speed dating" event in this very room, involving representatives of several faith societies on campus (he apologises for using that term, but he can't think of a better one right now - and at least we all know what he means by that).

The title of today's lecture is "Forgive? Forget? Why I still teach the Holocaust". The speaker is Aubrey Newman, Emeritus Professor of History and Past Director of the Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Leicester.

Prof. Newman speaks in the Octagon from 1300, following a light lunch, in front of an audience two dozen strong, with Bahá'í, Buddhist, Sikh and several denominations of Christian representation.

Prof. Newman asks us to consider his talk as an Apologia pro vita mea: a defence of one's life. Technically speaking, he is still an academic historian of the 18th century. Even at this late stage, he ponders whether he has taken the right path or should return to a biography of George III that has languished, two-thirds finished, in a drawer for many a year.

He was first invited to teach a special course on the Holocaust at the University of Leicester in the early 1980s. He muses that we'd be hard pressed to find someone who has spent so long teaching a subject which he abhors.

Two quotations feature prominently in the presentation:

"Those who do not know history's mistakes are bound to repeat them." (George Santayana, 1863-1952)

"You are not obligated to finish the work, neither are you free to give it up." (Rabbi Hillel, c.110 BCE - 10 CE)

Turning to the title of his talk, he asks: can he forgive? No. Can he forget? Definitely not.

The refusal to forgive does not denote any kind of vindictiveness on the part of the speaker. Prof. Newman doesn't accept the notion of vicarious forgiveness, any more than he accepts the notion of vicarious sin. As we are responsible for our own behaviour, so the only people who can forgive are those against whom the act has been perpetrated. Therefore the only people with the right to forgive the Holocaust are the victims themselves - and forgiveness cannot be obtained from the dead.

And as far as forgetting goes, it appears that much of Europe has forgotten the lessons of the Holocaust, if the rise of far right extremism is anything to go by.

During the Q&A I ask Prof. Newman a question. In his answer he refers to the Jewish community in Scotland with what sounds like first hand knowledge. After the meeting is over, I push him a little on this and he tells me that his family went up to Glasgow to escape the Blitz (arriving just in time to experience Glasgow's own), that he was educated at Queen's Park School and took his first degree at the University of Glasgow.

WORLD FAITHS ADVISORY GROUP AT LEICESTER UNIVERSITY, FEBRUARY 2013

A meeting of the World Faiths Advisory Group (WFAG) at the University of Leicester's Chaplaincy Centre (The Gatehouse, University Road) this lunchtime.

Present today are Rev Canon Dr Stephen Forster (Coordinating Chaplain), Ian Snaith (Chair, WFAG), Chris Sharp (Equalities Adviser to the University of Leicester) and Resham Singh Sandhu (Chair of the Sikh Cultural and Welfare Society, Vice Chair of Leicestershire Interfaith Forum and past-Chair of Leicester Council of Faiths).

With Chris present at today's meeting, it makes sense to talk about the World Faiths Advisory Group's relation to the University's management of equality issues. Under the terms of the Public Sector Equality Duty, the University of Leicester - like all public bodies - has to apply itself to three aims of the general duty:

• To eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010. By removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people due to their protected characteristics.
• To advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. By taking steps to meet the needs of people from protected groups where these are different from the needs of other people.
• To foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. By encouraging people from protected groups to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is disproportionately low.

 

We discuss the possibility of establishing a Religion or Belief Forum, which would function alongside hose already operating at the university in relation to other Protected Characteristics as enumerated in the Equality Act 2010. If such a forum existed, it would free WFAG from having to be involved in governance issues and allow this group to make progress on issues that fall within its specific remit. I am able to speak to the meeting in support of this idea. It's been my experience that the Protected Characteristic of Religion or Belief is taken more seriously an treated with more respect when it is see in context with the other Protected Characteristics, rather than trying to stand alone outside the general scheme of things or to make special pleading on grounds of exceptionalism.
 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL CHAPLAINCY 20TH ANNIVERSARY

The International Chaplaincy at the University of Leicester has borrowed our exhibition (set of 8 pop-up banners, plus a selection of leaflets, brochures, bookmarks, greetings cards) for the second time in a month to put on display in the Gatehouse on University Road as part of the celebration of their 20th anniversary.

They're holding an "open house" at the Gatehouse, University Road, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week. Our exhibition will be on show there for those three days. Visitors will be able to see the range of faith communities that we represent and take away information about how to contact us and how to draw on our services.

WORLD FAITHS ADVISORY GROUP AT LEICESTER UNIVERSITY

 

At the University of Leicester's Chaplaincy Centre (The Gatehouse, University Road) for a meeting of the World Faiths Advisory Group (WFAG). Present today are Dr Stephen Forster (Coordinating Chaplain), Dr Ian Snaith (Chair, WFAG), Clive Sutton (Quaker contact, WFAG), Clare Taylor (Head of Student Welfare Service).

Most of our discussion relates to the upcoming Freshers Week and International Students Fair. The Council of Faiths will be taking part in the latter but not the former, as exhibitors have to pay a rather prohibitive amount per diem to take part in Freshers Week. The International Chaplaincy has asked to use our exhibition banners for three days in the International Students Fair (Monday 26 - Wednesday 28 October). They also want to use them for another three days (Wednesday 12 - Friday 14 October) as part of activities on campus to mark their 20th anniversary, an occasion which goes under the title, "Striding in the Spirit". The International Chaplaincy will be having a marquee on campus and hosting a number of activities in there and other sites nearby.

WORLD FAITHS ADVISORY GROUP AT LEICESTER UNIVERSITY

 

At the University of Leicester's Chaplaincy Centre (The Gatehouse, University Road) where I've been invited to discuss ways of refreshing the relationship between Leicester Council of Faiths and the Chaplaincy's World Faiths Advisory Group.

I share a brief but welcome lunch with Dr Stephen Foster and Dr Ian Snaith: Coordinating Chaplain and Chair of the World Faiths Advisory Group respectively. We talk about the founding, past development and present state of the group and discuss ways in which Leicester Council of Faiths might be able to help it develop its services in future.

The Chaplaincy here is a Christian service, funded almost entirely by the Church of England. The university itself contributes a relatively small amount, funding the part-time post of International Chaplain (a position filled at present by my friend and colleague - and member of Leicester Council of Faiths - Julie-Ann Heath). This natural inclination toward Christianity can bee seen on the Chaplaincy's website, where a link for local places of worship leads to a page where every entry is for one Christian denomination or another.

The Gatehouse itself has only recently begun to be used by groups from outside the university's Christian community. A Buddhist group now meets here regularly. There is a generic "quiet room" on the first floor, into which individuals may bring items they need for prayer or meditation. Muslim students have been given their own facilities to use as a prayer room elsewhere on campus.

The World Faiths Advisory Group works with students and staff, mostly on issues of faith provision on campus. Historically, it has played the role of firefighter - called into action when there's a blaze to attend to, but asked to do little if anything in helping reduce the risk of fire in the first place. Stephen and Ian talk about some of the specific issues that the World Faiths Advisory Group has addressed, such as the clash of lecture times with the times for prayers observed by Muslim students.

The group has recently adopted a new constitution which (it is to be hoped) will allow it to function in ways more relevant to the needs and interests of the university today. It has undergone a process of mainstreaming its presence and services, to align with other relevant functions of the university, such as that of the Pro-Vice Chancellor, who is responsible for equalities across the board.

I brought the Council of Faiths exhibition (all nine pop up banners) to support the Chaplaincy stall at the International Students Fair held at the end of September last year in the O2 Academy (Percy Gee Building). I've been asked to do so again for that occasion this year. 

Stephen and Ian would like our assistance in obtaining more consistent representation at meetings from representatives of the city's faith communities. Although some of those representing these communities on the World Faiths Advisory Group are themselves members of Leicester Council of Faiths, there has not been, until now, someone on the group to represent the Council of Faiths itself. It's agreed that I will play that role from now on.

They're also asking St Philip's Centre for Study and Engagement in a Multi-Faith Society to play its part in reinvigorating the World Faiths Advisory Group.

The Chaplaincy will have access to an intern for six months from the start of the new academic year. Among that intern's tasks will be the bringing together of leading figures from the university's different student faith societies to work on matters of common interest.

We tentatively agree on proposing a fortnightly series of presentations hosted by each of the student faith societies in turn, starting early February 2012. This series would take as its theme an issue of interest to all faiths and on which they all have something interesting to say - but something deliberately non-contentious that is unlikely to lead to argument and disputation (e.g. education, family, pilgrimage). If Leicester Council of Faiths can contribute to the success of such activities, then by lending our assistance to the World Faiths Advisory Group we'll be able to demonstrate achievement of some important set us by the City Council, namely:

• To encourage and promote the knowledge and understanding of the beliefs and practices of the various faith communities in the city.
• To increase understanding and tolerance of religion for public benefit by bringing together members of different faith communities.
• To organise public inter-faith events.
• To consult and co-operate in social issues and other matters of concern.
• To raise the profile and public awareness of faith issues within the communities of Leicester.

One hand washes the other.

After the meeting, I cross University Road to the Student Union in the Percy Gee Building and sit on the outdoor terrace at Starbucks there, to do some work on my laptop. It's not the kind of thing I'd usually do, but it's very pleasant there in the warm sun and mild breeze. The lime trees across the road in Welford Road Cemetery are blooming, filling the air with their intoxicating scent - and there are no smokers on the terrace to spoil it. When I was a postgrad student at the University of Leicester about 15 years ago (I took my Masters in "Modern Literature: Theory and Practice") there were precious few amenities or facilities for students. I found the campus quite depressing actually, especially in the winter months. It was dead in the late afternoon and early evenings (particularly noticeable on the course I took, as in the first year, classes finished at 1630 and in the second year at 1800). Cafes and restaurants (or should that be singular) on campus closed around 1630 and there were only two places to go; the library, where there was nothing to do except get your head down and read (or, occasionally, just get your head down) or the bar in the student union. The only hot food available was from a lone burger bar parked up outside the Charles Wilson Building. I wasn't vegetarian then, but still, I never did. The whole place was most unwelcoming. I never felt that I belonged to the university community then and spent as little time on campus as possible. Things here are very different now. The campus at the University of Leicester is a very attractive place. it's a pity that, with the changes in access to Higher Education that have been introduced recently, fewer people of similar background to mine will be able to experience it.