This morning, there's a meeting of my Personnel Management Group scheduled at the Welcome Centre, 1100-1300. However, I'm under pressure to progress work on a set of guidelines from a booklet given me by Abida Hussein at Leicestershire NHS Partnership Trust, containing advice and guidance to be followed when patients of different background, religion or tradition present for the first time at hospital, in A&E or at their GP surgery. I ask for the scheduled meeting to be postponed but for the members attending to go over the text of the booklet, from the perspective of their own religions. That allows me to have the advantage of the Bahá'í , Christian, Hindu and Jewish points of view here this morning.
I have to leave promptly at 1300, to dash down ot the Guildhall to meet Asaf Hussain and visitors from the Iranian Cultural Centre in London, who are doing a recce there for the proposed festival of Iranian culture coming here in March. So I have to usher my colleagues out with little ceremony, so I can lock up. On the way out, we bump into one of the Barry Naylors, on his way into the SPCK book shop on the ground floor.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
ANTI-SEMITISM INCIDENTS IN UK REMAIN HIGH
Nicky Campbell's phone-in on BBC radio 5 Live this morning is on the topic of Anti-Semitism in Britain today. A Jewish charity which monitors acts of Anti-Semitism in the UK says it recorded 639 incidents of violence, threats and abuse last year. The figure, from the Community Security Trust, is the second highest since it began its work in 1984.
One caller is from Leicester; he identifies himself as "Abdul". He speaks up for Leicester as a place where a lot of work is being done to combat Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia by the faith communities getting together and working together. In fact (in the part of the show I hear) Leicester sounds like the only place with anything positive going on to tackle religious prejudice. Nicky Campbell gives a name check to Sheikh Ibrahim Moghra as a prominent figure in inter faith work, not only in Leicester but also further afield.
Read an article about the Anti-Semitism figures on the BBC News website.
UNREALISTIC RELIGIOUS VIEW
This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:
Unrealistic religious view
Although undoubtedly sincere, the column from the Rev David H Clark (First Person, January 21) about why some Anglicans cannot take the road to Rome is very short on any kind of reason or logic.
Basically it seems to be saying "I don't want to be Catholic because I don't like some Catholic teachings" – never mind what is true and what is not.
The "gay" issue is quoted; the Catholic Church cares for all, but is not afraid to say what is instantly obvious from even the natural law, that physical homosexual acts are quite wrong.
Papal infallibility is grossly misrepresented: in fact it refers only to papal teachings given as universal shepherd to the flock on matters of faith and morals. Why should conformity to defined dogma or truth be a problem?
Who says that the Catholic views on sex, gender and clerical celibacy, and the ordination of women are "unjustifiable"? Abortion is a posh word for murder of an unborn child, and even many Anglican clergy would regard marriage as indissoluble.
To sum up, it is not possible for abortion, and other issues, to be both right and wrong. Anybody who wants freedom to believe something wrong is something right, or vice versa, is being unrealistic.
Hugh Montefiori was, of course, well known for lack of orthodoxy; and my Anglican friends had little time for what he preached.
Mark W Jacques, OP, Quorn
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
FAITHS FORUM EAST MIDLANDS: GOING, GOING ... ...
Supporters of FFEM were disturbed to learn recently that its funding expires on 31 March - as is the case for every regional faiths forum throughout the country. As I walked to the meeting up from the train station, I tweeted,
In Loughborough, meeting CEO Faiths Forum for East Midlands. FFEM's funding ceases ntext month. More evidence of government vision #fail
FFEM has been in existence hardly more than a couple of years. Indeed, in common with a number of other sorts of organisations (such as REDP) the East Midlands was the last of the nine English regions to get one. In this short time it has already done some good work in creating a sense of collective identity for inter faith organisations across the region. But it was clear to all who took an interest that it had only begun to plant the seeds for more helpful and creative things to come. Now all that potential has been snuffed out. Or has it? Now read on ...
After being ushered into Patricia's office, I feel I have to begin by expressing my sadness, disappointment and anger at the decision about their funding. But as our conversation progresses, it start to dawn on me that perhaps FFEM isn't quite as dead and buried as it might at first seem. The office is closing at the end of February, giving them one month to pay all bills etc. And a very nice office it is too, refurbished and kitted out (modestly but befittingly) to allow them to do their job well. It seemed odd to me that it's slap bang in the middle of a housing estate, next door to a chippie - but that's more so because I'm used to such organisations being sited far from real life locations. So, come 1 April, FFEM won't have premises, paid staff or any funding. But it might not give up the ghost just then.
Although it's all up to the decision of their Board when it meets at the end of this week, there's the possibility of an afterlife for FFEM. Using the social media model, FFEM could continue as a hub of influence, collecting and collating information from the several inter faith bodies in the East Midlands, placing it in a central virtual location. Given my own interest and faith in social media, not to mention my frequent and regular (or, as some might say, "obsessive") practice of it, I can really see the point of this and could see immediately how it would work. Now if we can just get other inter faith folk in Derby, Kettering Lincoln, Northamption, Nottingham, Wellingborough etc blogging, facebooking and tweeting like I do ...
are universities a public good?
I received an e-mail about this debate from the Leicester Secular Society. The question "Are Universities a Public Good?" was raised during a recent BBC4 programme, part of the Justice Season, in which Michael Sandel, a Harvard Professor led a discussion on "Fairness and the Big Society". Having watched the programme, the idea of taking part in the DMU debate was very appealing.
The publicity for the event stated that "we are keen for individuals and organisations from across the city of Leicester to share their views about how higher education could help to shape the wider moral and ethical agenda. Touching on values, faith, local partnerships and social responsibility, we are keen for you to get involved in the discussion and share your views on what De Montfort University could and should be doing in society."
The public debate, was the third in a series of debates taking place on the same day - the other two being for students and for staff. It opened with a conversation between the Bishop of Leicester, Tim Stevens (a DMU Governor) and Professor Dominic Shellard (DMU's Vice-Chancellor). The floor was then open to members of the audience to make comments and raise questions and issues. It was acknowledged early in the debate, that Humanists and people of no faith had as much to contribute to discussions about the values and ethics of university education as members of faith groups. The questions that I found most interesting were:
· What is a university for?
· Is a degree a private or a public asset?
· How can universities contribute to our ability to find sustainable ways of living?
· How can we create spaces for listening, thinking and discussing issues where everyone is included?
The event overran by half an hour as there was such enthusiasm to continue the discussion.
Members of the audience were invited to note down their ideas on a feedback sheet. A team of DMU students attended all three debates and will be writing a report for the Board of Governors. The students will reflect on the issues raised during the debates and the ideas submitted by the audience.
Today's event was one element of a longer process. I shall be keeping my eye on the university website to see how the process unfolds.
One Day, No Religion (1)
An interesting message via our website today from locally-based film-maker, Dr Lucy Peel, contacting us in connection with "One Day, No Religion", which takes place on 20 February. The aim of the event is to join together with people around the globe by making a pledge to not partake in any kind of religious activity for the whole day; to set aside religion and religious differences, and come together only as people.
Lucy is a documentary artist publishing work through her website, covering many different events. She says that her motivations stem from the study of anthropology, which brings her into contact with diverse and varied sections of society. Many of the articles she publishes are multimedia – in that they contain short films, photos and words. When she's not doing all this, Lucy is a biological scientist at Leicester University, doing research work on asthma.
Lucy would like to interview some faith leaders and religious people about their thoughts on this day and their views on the current role of religion in society. She's asking after contacts for possible interviewees, especially ones who would consent to being recorded on camera.
Lucy would like to interview some faith leaders and religious people about their thoughts on this day and their views on the current role of religion in society. She's asking after contacts for possible interviewees, especially ones who would consent to being recorded on camera.
This demands some urgent follow up!
CreativeCoffee Club
A busy session of CreativeCoffee Club at Phoenix Square Film & Digital Media Centre this morning. I can't remember meeting anyone who'd describe themselves as an "Events Organiser" before - I meet two here today, among about 20 attendees. Today's session was organised by Ian Davies - seen above, against the CreativeCoffee big screen (which gives out some decent heat on a cold morning). When I ask Ian how it's going this morning, he says "Alright!" Ian's from Braunstone - which is a good thing, I mean.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
LEICESTER SECULAR SOCIETY URGES NON-BELIEVERS TO MAKE MARK ON CENSUS
As the 2011 Census approaches, more entries will appear in this blog about the religious dimension. The following article is published in today's Leicester Mercury.
Leicester Secular Society urges non-believers to make mark on census
By Laura Elvin
People who claim to be Christian when they do not practise the religion are creating a "misleading" picture of Britain, it has been claimed.
Leicester Secular Society is calling for non-believers to tick the 'no religion' box on this year's census.The society says that during the 2001 census, many people felt compelled to answer 'Christian' when it came to their religious belief, either out of habit or because they felt they ought to.
But it says that doing so leads to inaccurate figures, which are then used to justify policies that "do not reflect the real demographics of our society".
Emma Chung is the new president of the society, which calls for the separation of church and the state.
She said: "The last census disproportionately shows Christians as the majority but we actually think it is much, much lower."
"We want people to think before they answer the question, and make sure they are not ticking 'Christian' just out of habit, or because they feel they should.
"People might tick it because they associate being Christian with being moral, but actually they don't go to church and don't believe in God."
She added: "Misleading statistics are used to support policies that entrench religious privilege and increase discrimination on grounds of religion in our society. Which box you tick on the census form may seem trivial, but the results do make a difference to public policy.
"For example, a tick in the 'Christian' box rather than the 'No religion' box will contribute to data used to justify an increase in the number of 'faith' schools, the public funding of religious groups and the continuation of compulsory worship in schools.
"It is used to justify these and a whole host of other such policies that are damaging, divisive and, importantly, do not reflect the real demographics of our society."
The society is raising £1,000 to pay for posters to raise awareness of its campaign, called For God's Sake Say No, that will appear on buses in Leicester.
Canon Barry Naylor, urban canon at Leicester Cathedral, said he supported the call, but added it was "nonsense" that people felt pressurised into ticking 'Christian' on census forms.
He said: "If people take the census seriously, I would hope they would tick the Christian box if they are a Christian and the no religion box if they aren't religious.
"Part of participating in a democratic society is having a true picture of what people believe.
"The idea that people tick Christian because they feel they should, however, is a load of nonsense.
"That may be the case if they had someone looking over their shoulder, or maybe years and years ago, but not now.
"Also, I think that the idea that someone is not Christian because they don't come to church is not right either.
"Just because they only come at Easter and Christmas does not invalidate the fact they are Christian."
Malik Salim, chairman of Leicester's Islamic Centre, in Conduit Street, in the city centre, said: "We are of the view that everybody has a right to be able to speak publicly about their view or religion.
"We equally respect believers and non-believers. We are quite happy that people express their views."
The census begins on March 27.
Monday, 31 January 2011
give with one hand ...
At national level, there was no multi faith event on the scale of last year's launch as the change in Government led to late confirmation of support for the Week and limited planning time. but the new Government expressed strong support for the Week and the Secretary of State for Communities, Eric Pickles, hosted a reception at Admiralty House for the Week. Members of the Regional Faith Forums were invited along with key officers of Inter Faith Groups in their regions as a gesture of appreciation.
Mr Pickles (photo above) has since removed all funding from these Regional Faith Forums across the country. Because of that decision, the work of these organisations has been thrown into confusion as they've had to make staff redundant, close premises and (in many cases) call a halt to their activities. There's a "gesture of appreciation" for you.
Mindfulness & Morality 3: Hindu Perspective
I'm not able to attend the session on Mindfulness and Morality this evening as I'm at County Hall doing the "Religion and Media" presentation. This is the first of the "faith specific" sessions, on Hinduism. Kevin Commons has taken notes, which I reproduce here, just as he has sent them. That makes Kevin my first guest blogger!
There was a total of 19 people plus Ramesh Majithia (facilitator). Ramesh's introductory talk set out the following five pillars of Hindu ethics:
- Reverence for self (the self is the image of the Divine)
- Reverence for other (obviously, others are also the image of the Divine)
- Reverence for the animal kingdom (God's creation)
- Reverence for the plant kingdom
- Reverence for the material kingdom
These obviously have implications for the environment and the ecology of the planet. He then described the 4 ashrams as life stage that guide moral behaviour. These are:
- age 0 to 25 where the focus is study and learning
- 25 to 50 where the focus is family life
- 50 to 70 where the individual starts to let go of attachments
- 70+ where the individual lets go of everything and becomes a sanyasin (homeless person)
He explored a few quotations from the Gita and Upanishads and told the story of Saint Jalaram, which provided the basis for his discussion item that had food and family life as its focus.
Raj's behaviour
Raj is 13 and is the only son. Rings mum one day from school that he will be late home and that they eat at the usual time of 6.00 p.m. Dad has a medical condition and has to eat at regular times. Raj arrives at 7.00 p.m. Dad had gone to rest upstairs. Mum has been waiting to eat with son. As son is warming up the food Raj says he wanted to eat pizza. Mum cannot persuade the son otherwise. Raj get the pizza out of the freezer and puts it in the microwave. the next thing is he sits on the sofa, switches on the TV to watch "Neighbours" and starts eating the pizza. Mum is stunned.
This story provoked a lot of discussion but certainly brought home the significance of family activities and the place of food within these. Issues of Raj's lack of mindfulness of his mother and father's needs and the lack of respect for the food that seemed about to be wasted were well rehearsed. However, Raj's mother's behaviour was also pointed out. Why did she not eat with her husband? Why wait for Raj since he had chosen to break the family routine. One view suggested that this was Raj's mother's dilemma, requiring her to ask why Raj behaved as he did in a way that would seek to find out how he was seeing the world, rather than castigating him for his unacceptable behaviour.
If the key point was lack of respect for authority and, in a more general sense, the law, then the level of moral judgement in Kohlberg's terms seems to be at stage 4, the higher of the two levels of conventional thinking.
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