Inter Religious Relations Courses

PEN's sister organisation, St Philip's Centre Leicester have asked us to publish a reminder of the courses; MA, Diploma, Certificate, they have on offer as they are recruiting now for courses beginning September 2012.

Living in a world of many faiths challenges us on many levels. How can we live together in a world of many religions and world views? Are religions on a global collision course? What does inter-religious dialogue mean? Explore these and other questions through part-time
postgraduate courses at St Philip’s Centre, 2A Stoughton Drive North, Leicester LE5 5UB

Who is it for?
Members of faith communities who have a practical or theoretical interest
in relations with people of different faiths; Those working for secular or religious agencies, private or public, where faith issues are significant; Specialist ministers in inter-faith relations; Anyone interested in extending their grasp of a lively field of enquiry

Library facilities
St. Philip’s Centre has an excellent library. Books can also be borrowed from De Montfort University. There is also an excellent library at the Islamic Foundation at Markfield. Membership of DMU library gives eligibility for membership of the SCONUL scheme, which affords borrowing rights for most university libraries in the UK.

Funding
Some bursary assistance may be available through St Philip’s Centre.
Please contact the Dean of Studies.

Tutors
Dr Angela Jagger, Revd Canon Dr John Hall and Revd Canon Dr Alan Race, together with a number of other invited academics, deliver the teaching programme.

How to Apply
Application is made through the St Philip’s Centre. For further information and applications, please contact the Administrator/Registrar, Maureen Hebblewhite: admin@stphilipscentre.co.uk or Telephone: 0116 273 3459

Full details are on the St Philip's website
St Philip’s Centre is an Associate Partner with De Montfort University

Westminster Faith Debates; The place of religion in public life today

Between 2007-2012 £12m was invested by two research councils, the AHRC and ESRC, in the largest-ever funded research programme on ‘Religion and Society’.

Now leading academics will present findings arising from that research, for response by public figures. Together they will open up debate about the place of religion in public life today. The series of debates on religion in public life, running from February to May 2012 take place at RUSI, 61 Whitehall, SW1A 2ET, Wednesdays fortnightly, 5.30-7pm.

The series is organised and chaired by the Rt Hon Charles Clarke, Professor Linda Woodhead and Dr Rebecca Catto, in co-operation with Theos.

1. RELIGIOUS IDENTITY IN ‘SUPERDIVERSE’ SOCIETIES
8th Feb
Trevor Phillips, Dominic Grieve, Kim Knott, Therese O’Toole
2. WHAT’S THE PLACE OF FAITH IN SCHOOLS?
22nd Feb
Richard Dawkins, John Pritchard, Jim Conroy, Robert Jackson
3. WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT RADICALISATION?
7th March
Mehdi Hasan, Ed Husain, Mark Sedgwick, Marat Shterin, Mat Francis
4. WHAT ROLE FOR RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS IN AN ERA OF SHRINKING WELFARE?
21st March
David Blunkett, Peter Smith, Adam Dinham, Sarah Johnsen
5. WHAT LIMITS TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM?
18th April
Lisa Appignanesi, Maleiha Malik, Peter Jones
6. WHAT ARE THE MAIN TRENDS IN RELIGION AND VALUES IN BRITAIN?
2nd May
Aaqil Ahmed, Cole Moreton, Linda Woodhead, Grace Davie

Please email p.ainsworth@lancaster.ac.uk to register for the debates you would like to attend, and visit http://www.religionandsociety.org.uk/faith_debates for further details.

Interaction Days in January - March

Interaction Days are one off interfaith volunteering events designed to give young people (16-25) the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and discuss interfaith and ecological issues in an open an inclusive environment. They are held throughout London’s hidden nature reserves and natural parks, with activities to date including habitat building, scrub bashing, pond-wading and vegetable gardening, along with interfaith games and activities – all good old-fashioned fun for a good, local cause.

The dates of future Interaction Days are:
- Sunday 22nd January 2012 down at Kentish Town City Farm.
- Sunday 12th February 2012 at the hidden Westbere Copse.
- Wednesday 22nd February 2012 at the incredible Grade I listed Highgate Cemetery.
- Thursday 1st March 2012 at the London School of Jewish Studies.

All days run from 10am to 3pm, are open to everyone and include an hour lunch break with interfaith activities, discussions and games. Lunch and refreshments will be provided by Interact!

To get involved, please log on to the Interact website and fill in the online application (scroll down to the bottom of the page for the link), or email Richard@interact-uk.org.uk / call 0207 482 4020.

January Update - News, Issues, Links and Events

Welcome to 2012 with an esoteric pic - the clue is in the heading......

News
Once again there has been violence and retaliation between Christians and Musims in North East Nigeria. The Christian Muslim Forum issued a statement on 9th January. The Anglican Communion Network for Inter Faith Concerns (NIFCON) also covered this, and unrest in Egypt, in its latest Digest.
The Inter Faith Network for the UK has published its latest e-bulletin which includes a round up of events in Inter Faith Week

IssuesPoverty and homelessness are issues of national concern and a campaign and awareness raising week has been identified, 28th January - 5th February. Locally the Newham contribution to the campaign, Towards a Whole Society, will take place from 6-8pm on Thursday 2nd Feburary - venue tbc. Contact Revd James Ramsay to express interest or for more details.
We reported on follow up to the riots last summer and now give addvance notice of Reclaiming London Together, a day conference (9am - 5pm) on Monday 5th March organised by FaithForum4London and Fayre Share Foundation. Contact info@fayresharefoundation.org for more.

LinksThe Tony Blair Faith Foundation and Tzedek have teamed up to launch INFACT, an 8 week training programme for 16-25 year olds to help them devise campaigns that will achieve the Millenium Development Goals. The launch date is Sunday 5th February and details are available from charlotte@tzedek.org.uk
Not a new organisation but new to PEN is The Wyndham Place Charlemagne Trust whose first 2012 'Trusting Conversations' will be held in the Tent at St Ethelburga's on Thursday 19th January 5.30 - 7.00pm. The conveseration will explore the seeming contradictions and the emotional language which surround the Euro and the Eurozone for example surrounding financial regulation. You need to book via wpctrust@gmail.com or telephone 01993 881 366

Events not mentioned above so in date order.......
A few places left for Multiculturalism: a Christian Retrieval Friday 20th January, 10 - 12 noon at the Hurtado Jesuit Centre 2 Chandler Street, Wapping E1W 2QT see earlier PEN blogTuesday 31st January the annual Boyle lecture at St-Mary-le-Bow
Saturday 4th February 9.15 to 5pm Belief and Being in School II at Methodist International Centre, Creating a Faith-Friendly Learning Environment. Organised by the Christian Muslim Forum
Wednesday 8th February 6.30 - 8.00pm at The Education Centre, Southwark Cathedral, next to London Bridge a meeting re 2012 London Inter Faith Walks July 14th and 15th. Hosted by South London Inter Faith Group but we would like to hear about any such walks being planned. Contact thorleysarah@yahoo.co.uk if you are interested.

A Christian retrieval of multiculturalism?

There are still some places left at PEN's January event - a session with Jonathan Chaplin of the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics to discuss his recent Theos report, which argues for a Christian retrieval of multiculturalism.  The two-hour event will be on Friday 20th January at 10am (with coffee from 9.30am) at the new Hurtado Jesuit Centre (at 2 Chandler Street, Wapping E1W 2QT). It is an excellent setting for the event - as UK home of the Jesuit Refugee Centre, and a member of London Citizens.

To book a place, contact Angus Ritchie (director [AT] theology-centre.org)