Religiosity has always been closely associated with conservatism: the Church of England is sometimes described as ‘the Conservative party at prayer’. In the United States, the Republican party and the religious right have become increasingly interdependent, but a similar trend has not occurred on this side of the Atlantic. This report, based on original analysis of the Citizenship Survey and the European Values Survey, investigates the different relationship between religion and politics in the UK and Europe.

Read more at: Demos Faithful Citizens

13th March: Inter-Religious Learning:  Dialogue, Spirituality and Faith:  Speaker: Father Michael Barnes SJ,  Reader and Senior Tutor in Inter-Religious Relations, Heythrop College

20th March: St Edith Stein:  A Case Study in Inter-Religious Dialogue:  Speaker: Rabbi James Baaden,  University of Oxford

27th March: Christian-Muslim Dialogue:  What are the Prospects?:  Speaker: Professor Hugh Goddard,  Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, Edinbugh University

The above lectures take place on the Tuesdays of March as shown. The lectures take place in St Aloysius’ Church, 25 Rose Street, Garnethill, Glasgow at 7.30pm. Admission is free, written questions are considered after the lecture by the speaker and then refreshments are available in the College Refectory in 45 Hill Street. No tickets or reservations required. All welcome.

Belief In Dialogue PDF

Some exciting opportunities have come up for young people/adults of faith to volunteer for the Scottish Inter Faith Council in 2012:

1) St Moden’s High School, Stirling: Friday 10th February
I am looking for young people and adults from Protestant, Baha’i, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist faiths to take part in a religion and spirituality day at St Moden’s High School for S6 pupils. The young people would lead 6 sets of 15 minute sessions with groups of up to 20 pupils, talking about their faith and what it means to them and answering questions from pupils. There would also be an opportunity to sit on a panel for a question and answer session at the end Meeting at 11.30am at Stirling Railway Station, the school minibus will transport volunteers to and from the school, the day finishing at 3.30pm. (SIFC staff will be travelling from Glasgow station)

2) Ankur Productions
Visual artist Arpita Shah is creating an ‘installation piece’ at the Citizen’s Theatre in April 2012. She is looking for young people from different faiths, aged 12 – 16, whom she plans to document on film and camera as they practice their faith in their place of worship, capturing aspects of customs and rituals during prayer. She also plans to interview the young people about their faith and what it means to them. Arpita is keen for the general public to find out more about the meaning and importance of faith for young people, whose voices are not always heard by the general media. Initial meetings will take place in January and filming in February and March, although each young person would only need 1 – 2 hours for filming. More details can be found on the attachment with this email.

3) Education Scotland
Education Scotland is creating a film, interviewing young people of faith talking about what faith means to them. This would be used as an education resource for Religious and Moral Education teachers in Scottish Schools. Anyone up to the age of 26 is welcome to apply. Filming will take place during the day or at the weekend, dates to be confirmed.

Please contact Frances Hume for further details on 0141 420 6982 or email fhume@scottishinterfaithcouncil.org

The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre presents the film, Hijab, the Light Behind the Veil.

Muslim women explain what wearing the hijab means to them and how they feel about negative impressions presented by the media. This will be followed by a discussion.

More info on the Glasgow Life website

See the trailer for the Pan African Arts Film series.

For booking and more information please contact Lyndsey on 0141 276 1625 or lyndsey.mackay@glasgowlife.org.uk 

Every year Scotland holds a national Holocaust Memorial Day to honour the memory of those who suffered and perished under the Nazi persecutions during World War II, and subsequent genocides including Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.  It offers an opportunity to join millions of others across the world to come together to pause, to remember and to reflect on what we need to do to create a future free from the dangers of racist violence and discrimination.

This year, the Scottish Inter Faith Council has been delighted to work with Dundee City Council, The Scottish Government, The Anne Frank Trust UK and The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to host the National Scottish Memorial Event for 2012 in the Caird Hall, Dundee on 26^th January.  Highlights of the 2012 Holocaust event include a key note address from Rabbi Bent Melchior, an international, award winning peace activist from Denmark, along with Holocaust Survivor George Brady whose amazing story has been told around the world in the book and film ‘Inside Hana’s Suitcase’. 

The film ‘Inside Hana’s Suitcase’ was shown at the Edinburgh Filmhouse on 23rd January. George Brady, along with his daughter Lara, Film Director Larry Weinstein and Fumiko Ishioka who set up a Holocaust museum in Tokyo, engaged in a moving Q&A with the audience after the show.  George, Larry and Fumiko will be engaging with audiences across Scotland including speaking at a primary school in Broughty Ferry where their interaction with the school children will go out to schools in Scotland via ‘Glow Meet’.

For an article with more details about George and Fumiko’s story and their visit to Scotland please click here.

Some of the other activities organised by the Scottish Inter Faith Council for Holocaust Memorial Day include:

• 2000 primary school children will attend a special morning memorial event in the Caird Hall, Dundee

• 700 secondary school children and adults will attend the main evening memorial event in the Caird Hall, Dundee

• A civic reception for 200 invited guests will be hosted by the Lord Provost of Dundee

• The Anne Frank Exhibition will be on display for a week in Dundee

• Glasgow will host a school event in the City Chambers with George Brady and family as key guests

For further information please contact Maureen Sier.

The Transformation Team is delighted to let you know that the Faithful Endeavours resource is now available on the Scottish Government website for you to download, view and to use.

The Faithful Endeavours resource  demonstrates some of the very good work which is already going on to nurture a growing understanding between public agencies and faith communities as well as identifying key ways to deepen those relationships. It was compiled for use by both faith communities and public agencies as together they seek ways to support communities across Scotland.

The resource was developed as part of the Scottish Government’s Better Community Engagement programme by the Scottish Community Development Centre and Faith in Community Scotland and the hope is that it will contribute towards our shared goal of a fairer Scotland for all.

To find out more about the Faithful Endeavours resource please contact Pauline or Shakeel at the Transformation Team on  Tel: 0141 221 4576  Shakeel@transformationteam.org

Resource: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/engage/better/resources/tools

Please click here for a programme of events taking place across Scotland.

Please click here for a flyer / poster about the week.

If you are planning an inter faith event during Scottish Inter Faith Week please contact Frances Hume so that these can be included in our 2011 programme.

Meeting with Rabbi Nava Hefetz
Rabbis for Human Rights, Jerusalem

Rabbi Nava Hefetz has responsibility for the “Sisters for Peace” Project organised by Rabbis for Human Rights at Sappir College, Sderot, Israel at the north-east corner of the Gaza Strip.

Refreshments available from 1830 hours

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Tuesday 22nd November. 7:30 pm : Newlands South, Church of Scotland, 37 Riverside Road, (just off Langside Drive)

Meeting of Council of Christians and Jews
“Jewish Genealogy”, presented by Michael Tobias, Vice President of Jewish Gen

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Sand Mandala Events

Wednesday 23rd – Saturday 26th November, 10am – 5pm, at St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
Construction of AMITAYUS Mandala by Tashi Lunpho Monks

Friday 25th November 19.30 : Woodside Halls, Glenfarg St.
The Power of Compassion’ – Masked Dance and Sacred Chant performance
Tickets £10 on the door or reserve by e-mail through mungobookings@csglasgow.org

Saturday 26th November 19.30 : The Ogilvie Centre, Rose St. (next to St Aloysius Church)
An opportunity to meet the Tashi Lunpho Monks

Sunday 27th November 11.00-13.00 : St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
Sand mandala destruction ceremony

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Sunday 27th November 13.30 : St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art

Launch of Scottish Inter Faith Week

Friday 2nd December 10am – 3pm: Archdiocesan Offices, Clyde St.

Inter Faith Seminar with Prof. Werner Jeanrond and Prof. Mona Siddiqi

For further details contact Sister Isabel Smyth

Friday 2nd December: 19.00 : Mosque, Carrington Street

Christian/Muslim Conversation with Dr Bhutta, Rev David Black and Rev. Cedric Blakely

For further details contact Sister Isabel Smyth

Saturday 3 December 10.30 – 15.00 Inter Faith Pilgrimage

visit to places of worship, beginning at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Gt Western Rd.

For further details contact Sister Isabel Smyth

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