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November 2006 E-Bulletin

November 2, 2006

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Twenty-five new ecumenical accompaniers, including a Hindu and a Muslim, get to work
A new group of 25 ecumenical accompaniers have just begun three months of working with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI). The group includes the first Hindu and the second Muslim to participate in the programme, the former from South Africa and the latter from the UK.
World Council of Churches Press Release, 20 Oct 2006

Muslim anger over council school snub
Scotland's biggest council believes that a state-funded Islamic faith school would lead to the "social isolation" of young Scottish Muslims, a secret document has revealed. Despite publicly saying it would consider a school if community leaders could prove the demand, a memo obtained by Scotland on Sunday shows that Glasgow's education chiefs have voiced "serious concerns" about any such plans. The full story and an extremely lengthy discussion on sectarian schooling can be found at:
Scotland on Sunday, 29 Oct 2006

Muslim schools not an answer, says study
Academics from a leading Islamic institute in Dundee have warned that the creation of Muslim schools will only cause further divisions in British society. Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi and Professor Malory Nye, from the Al-Maktoum Institute, called for a radical overhaul of the education system to halt the “mutual incomprehension” between most Britons and the Muslim community.

They said, “There are some deeply embedded issues within our society regarding Islam and Muslims of stereotyping, hostility, Islamophobia and misunderstanding. Professor El-Awaisi said, “The only way forward is not through separation and isolation, but through multicultural education. It’s not through establishing Muslim schools.” He added, “It is only through multicultural education we can work to eliminate extremism and fundamentalism.”
The Courier, 26 Oct 2006

Christians and Muslims work together for Indonesian development
Four months after an earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Java, Indonesian Mennonites and Muslims are rebuilding homes and forging new relationships across religious lines, says Jeanne Jantzi a Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) country representative for Indonesia. Mennonites are Christians in the Anabaptist peace church tradition. MCC is a North American relief, development and advocacy organization.
Ekklesia, 10 Oct 2006

‘That Wouldn't Be Very Christian, Would It?’
The Muslim magazine 'Q News' in its July edition (no 367), had a rather good article on Muslim staff members at Christian Aid.  The article features two Muslims who work at CA's headquarters in London, telling people how CA works, and of the fact that some partner organisations, here and abroad, are Muslim ones.  It ends with a quote from one of the staff, "I, a Muslim, work for Christian Aid.  I even know of Christians who work for Islamic Relief.  It just shows that those of us who are quite committed to our faith are all quite open and tolerant of other people.  Which begs the question: who is actually being intolerant?" At present copies of the article are not available online, but will probably be downloadable in the near future from Q News.

Faith leaders appeal against global arms bazaar
Fourteen global religious leaders from five faiths covering four continents have made a passionate appeal, on moral and humanitarian grounds, for firm action against the global trade in arms. Their call, in a letter to The Times newspaper in London, comes ahead of propels to be presented in the forum of the United Nations. Among the signatories are Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama- who have also worked together on other causes, including freedom for people languishing under the yolk of military dictatorship in Burma.
Ekklesia, 4 Oct 2006

Christians back plans for Muslim community centre despite threats
Christian leaders in Cumbria are backing a plan for a Muslim Community centre and prayer room, despite threats against those who support it. Nine members of Churches Together in Cumbria, including the Bishop of Carlisle, a well know Evangelical, have signed a letter of support for the centre, expressing regret at “fears and prejudices” expressed locally, reports the News and Star newspaper.
Ekklesia, 29 Sept 2006

Drive for multi-faith Britain deepens rifts, says Church
The Church of England has launched an astonishing attack on the Government's drive to turn Britain into a multi-faith society. In a wide-ranging condemnation of policy, it says that the attempt to make minority "faith" communities more integrated has backfired, leaving society "more separated than ever before". The criticisms are made in a confidential Church document, leaked to The Sunday Telegraph, that challenges the "widespread description" of Britain as a multi-faith society and even calls for the term "multi-faith" to be reconsidered.
Daily Telegraph, 8 Oct 2006

Lecturers asked to keep eye on 'radical' Muslim students
Lecturers are to be asked to spy on Muslim students they fear may become radicalised and militant.  Guidance is to be sent out from the Department of Education in Westminster to universities across Britain.  The Government believes universities and colleges are "fertile recruiting grounds" for extremists. It plans to ask tutors and other members of staff to pass on information to Special Branch.  The document will reportedly admit that to some lecturers this would feel like "collaborating with the secret police".
Edinburgh Evening News, 16 Oct 2006

Christian and Muslim academics issue global appeal for Occupied Territories
Christian and Muslim presidents of ten leading Palestinian university institutions have jointly issued a powerful global appeal to their counterparts in other countries and the leaders of civil society around the world. Their aim is to highlight the tragic consequences of current Israeli policies towards the West Bank and the Gaza strip, especially in the areas of fair access to education and free movement of peoples.
Ekklesia, 23 Oct 2006

Evangelical Alliance challenges Islam to engage in debate without resorting to intimidation
The Evangelical Alliance welcomes the current debate on the veil and the cross, and calls on Christians and Muslims to continue to work together to tackle extremism, in the light of the Government’s ‘Preventing Extremism Together’ initiative.

The Evangelical Alliance emphasises that this call is made in a spirit of ‘assertive love’
The Alliance believes that Christians have a moral and biblical responsibility to stand by Muslims when they are unfairly treated. It also urges Muslims to stand up for religious freedom internationally.
idea, Sept-Oct 2006
Full Faith and Nation Report: download

Cash help to root out extremism
Muslim groups which prove they are trying to outlaw extremism within their ranks are to receive financial support, Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly says. Cash will be available for projects that involve women, that build bridges between communities and are in touch with young people, she said.  But some Muslim groups condemned her, saying the government was trying to create its own "state-sponsored Islam".   Islamic Human Rights Commission Chairman, Massoud Shadjareh said, "The deliberate confusion surrounding the word extremism is a ploy by the government to use its financial muscle to socially engineer a new brand of Islam which will be subservient to its foreign policy."
BBC News, 11 Oct 2006

Messages from The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
Cardinal Paul Poupard, the President of the Council last month issued messages to Hindus to mark Diwali and to Muslims to mark the end of Ramadan.  In both messages he highlights the importance of love and featured Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical letter Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), as he had also done in his message to Buddhists in May as they celebrated Wesak. In the Diwali message he focuses on the words “Love is the light – and in the end, the only light – that can always illuminate a world grown dim…”, and for Eid al-Fitr Cardinal Poupard writes that true love must be of service to all the needs of daily life and that it must also seek just and peaceful solutions to the serious problems which afflict our world.  The latter message is entitled “Christians and Muslims: in confident dialogue aimed at solving together the challenges of our world”.
Vatican Press Releases, May & Oct 2006

O'Brien urges Muslims to say sorry for 9/11
THE leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, has called for Muslims to apologise for the 9/11 and 7/7 bomb attacks, declaring that the public should not have to live "in fear of attack" from believers of the Islamic faith. However moderate Muslims have rushed to argue that they should not be held responsible for extremist Muslims, in the same way in which the Cardinal should not be held responsible for past terrorist activities of the IRA.
Scotland on Sunday, 22 Oct 2006
The Universe, 25 Oct 2006 
Daily Record, 23 Oct 2006

Australian Muslim leader compares uncovered women to exposed meat
A senior Muslim cleric in Australia has sparked a furore by comparing women who do not wear a headscarf to "uncovered meat", implying that they invited sexual assault. Sheik Taj el-Din Al Hilali was quoted as saying: "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside ... without cover, and the cats come to eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats' or the uncovered meat's? The uncovered meat is the problem. If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab [the headdress worn by some Muslim women], no problem would have occurred."
The Guardian, 26 Oct 2006

Archbishop’s comments on inter religious encounter in China
In a press conference in Beijing at the end of his two week visit to China, Rowan Williams described inter faith encounter in that country as being cooperation rather than dialogue.  He said, “One of the very interesting observations made … on this subject was that for religious people in China, cooperation has come before dialogue; that’s to say there have been ways of communicating, sharing perceptions and sharing priorities through official channels but actual detailed dialogue between the religious communities is probably still in its infancy.”
Lambeth Palace Press Release, 24 Oct 2006

Coming Events

1. Islam has nothing to do with us! A challenge to our prejudices
As part of its adult education programme, Falkirk Churches Together is promoting a discussion evening on the above topic.  This will be held on 22 November, from 7.30pm, in St Francis Xavier Church Hall, Hope Street, Falkirk.  All welcome. 

2. Jewish and Scottish - the threads and the tartan
Dr Ephraim Borowski, Director of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and former head of Philosophy Dept, Glasgow University, will deliver this year’s Baillie Lecture in the Martin Hall, New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh, at 5.30pm on Tuesday 28 November, 2006.  Cecelia Clegg, the Director of the Edinburgh University Centre of Theology and Public Issues will be in the chair.  All will be welcome.  Further information by e-mail from ctpi@ed.ac.uk or 0131 650 7991.

3. Three other events
Day Conference: Arts and Spirituality: Connecting to the Source. Saturday 4 November 2006, at St George's West Church, 58 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh.

Two-Day Celtic Spirituality Conference Friday 24 and Saturday 25 November 2006 at St George’s West Church, 58 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh.

The 2007 Middle East Festival One World Peace Concert. Venue: The Queen’s Hall, 87-89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh.
Date/Time: Saturday 10 February 2007, 6.30pm-10pm. Doors open 5.30pm. Indian snacks served by Suruchi Indian Restaurant from 5.30pm-6.30pm in the bar. Cost: £8/£6 (Concessions). A two-ticket offer of £14/£10 (conc). Contact: Booking Hotline on 0131 668 2019, or in person at the Queen’s Hall.

4. Inter-Faith Week – Programme update
Details of some of the events throughout Scotland can be found at the Scottish Inter Faith Council website.

5. The Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association programme of events for the 2006 Inter-Faith week 
Full details of all the events and exhibitions being promoted throughout the City of Edinburgh in the run-up and during this year’s inter faith week can be found on the EIFA website.

6. Edinburgh Inter-faith Association - Annual Conference 2007
Taking place at Edinburgh City Chambers, High Street on Sunday 30 January, this conference will take place from 2.00pm-5.00pm and is open to anyone interested in attending. Confirmed Speakers (so far) include Roy Jobson, Director of Education, Michael McGrath, Director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service and Ravinder Kaur Nijjar, Sikh Community Rep on Scottish Interfaith Council, and School Teacher.  For more information, please contact EIFA.

7. Middle East Festival of Peace and Spirituality
The schedule for the 2007 Middle East Festival is almost ready for printing. This will run from 7 February - 11 March 2007. The Festival Brochures will start to go out in early December 2006. As part of the Festival  Jean Vanier will pay Edinburgh a 5-day visit, and he will also give the 2007 Middle East Festival Lecture on Thursday 1 March 2007 at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh on the theme of 'Spirituality and the Civilisation of Love.'

8. Faith to Faith
A series of workshops exploring faith and belief at St Mungo’s Museum of Religious Life and Art, Glasgow.  Faith to Faith provides an opportunity to listen, debate and discuss issues relating to religion in Scotland today. The 2006-7 programme commemorates the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in the British Empire. Topics include Scotland's role in the slave trade and the move against it. Speakers will also explore the wider subject of slavery and religion – both past and present – and contemporary issues such as human rights and crimes against humanity. All events are free, but booking is essential. To make a booking, phone 0141 553 2557.  Further details can be found at Glasgow Museums.

9. 2007 Inter Faith Study Days at Scottish Churches House, Dunblane:
Christianity and Scotland's Other Faiths
CAIRS will again host a series of workshop days in 2007.   Future issues of this E-journal will include booking forms and publicity materials for each event, about two months in advance of each date.  Please put these dates in your diaries:

Tuesday 24 April
In Dialogue with Sikhism
An opportunity to learn more about Sikhism, the Sikh community in Scotland, and ways to improve dialogue between Christians and Sikhs, led by Mrs Ravinder Kaur Nijjar, Scottish Sikh Womens Association, teacher, Executive Commitee member of Scottish Inter Faith Council ( Convener 2002-2004) and UK Inter Faith Network.  A study day, jointly promoted by SCH and CAIRS.  10.30am to 3pm. 

Wednesday 26 September
In Dialogue with Islam
An opportunity to learn more about Islam, the Muslim community in Scotland, and ways to improve dialogue between Christians and Muslims, led by Sohaib Saeed, student of Philosophy, regular Friday Imam for Edinburgh Central Mosque and Director of the Islam Festival Edinburgh. A study day, jointly promoted by SCH and CAIRS.  10.30am to 3pm. 

Tuesday 20 November
In Dialogue with Hinduism
An opportunity to learn more about Hinduism, the Hindu community in Scotland, and ways to improve dialogue between Christians and Hindus, led by Rev Professor Frank Whaling, Methodist Minister, President of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association, and Emeritus Professor of the Study of Religion at Edinburgh University.  A study day, jointly promoted by SCH and CAIRS.  10.30am to 3pm. 

10. ‘International double standards?  A case study of Iran’
A public meeting (free admission) on Wednesday 15 November 2006, 7pm at Martin Hall, New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh. Dr. Ali Ansari, Iran expert, University of St. Andrews Institute of Middle East, Central Asia and Caucasus Studies & the Royal Institute for International Affairs Middle East Programme, and author of ‘The History of Modern Iran from 1921’. With responses from Prof. Roland Dannreuther, Head of Politics, University of Edinburgh, and members of the Iranian community in Scotland. With Joyce McMillan in the chair. Arranged by Helsinki Citizens Assembly, Scotland.

11. Meet Your Neighbour events at St. Mungo's Museum, Glasgow

Monday 27 November, Tuesday 28 November, Wednesday 29 November
Talks on objects in St Mungo Museum
12.30–1pm. This year’s Meet your Neighbour coincides with the annual Scottish Interfaith Week. Join us in looking more closely at some of the objects in St Mungo Museum, and find out what they mean to people living in Scotland today.

Thursday 30 November
Tour of Islamic objects in the Gallery of Religious Art
12.30–1.00pm

Saturday 2 December
Voicebeat interfaith choir
10.00am–4.00pm, Tranquillity Zone. Drumming workshop for all ages and abilities. Art Cart for children and families.

Saturday 2 December
A generation of interfaith work in Glasgow
2.00–2.45pm. Talk in the Scottish Gallery. Sister Isobel Smyth and Mrs Brij Gandhi talk about the work of the Glasgow ‘Sharing of Faiths’ interfaith group.

Sunday 3 December
Music from the Jewish Choral Society
12.00–4.00pm. Art Cart for children and families.

Sunday 3 December
Lunchtime discussion on Towards a multi-faith Glasgow
2.00–3.00pm. Led by Kiran Singh, Education & Access Curator, and Tom Harrigan, Interfaith Liaison Officer, in the function room.

12. United Reformed Church Inter Faith Conference
Monday 4 December, 2006, at the American Church in London, 10.30 am to 4 pm. Keynote Speakers on "Dialogue for Peace - why inter faith dialogue is more critical than ever as an instrument for peace making". Musharraf Hussain, Director of the Karimia Institute, Nottingham and President of the Christian Muslim Forum. Louise Mitchell, Youth & Publicity Officer, The Council for Christians and Jews, Britain. David Cornick, General Secretary, United Reformed Church
The day will also include workshops, networking and sharing good practice. There is no charge for the event. For further information and to register contact 0207 916 8655 or racial.justice.mm@urc.org.uk.