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Religious Education is to be placed within the national curriculum in England, a recommendation made by the government’s curriculum and assessment review, which has delighted RE teachers and campaigners who have been seeking improvements for years. In our media briefing, one of the panel members, Dr Vanessa Ogden, said there was a recognition that the subject is “absolutely critical in a modern society, with the global nature of the world”. The discussion addressed questions on content, teacher training, the role of SACREs and the impact of RE’s changed status. View the briefing again or listen to the podcast via links here.
The Associated Press reported on reaction among American Muslims to the win of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor. An article quotes individuals and organisations and concludes that many see his victory as a rejection of Islamophobia and proof that New Yorkers chose policies over prejudice >>
Work to build “The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer”, a 53-metre-high construction in the shape of a giant white loop, started this week after a £40 million fundraising target was met >>
A national Hindu NHS Network has been launched to support staff and promote better care for Hindu patients, carers and families. Its aim is to preserve spiritual identity, cultural values and personal wellbeing by encouraging greater awareness of the faith tradition >>
‘Hyphen’, an online news platform covering British and European Islam, held its inaugural conference in London with discussions on politics and sport. Former Faith Minister Lord Khan said he is hopeful of an agreement soon on the definition of Islamophobia: ‘If you’re going to tackle the problem, you need to define the problem’ >>
The winner of this year’s Great British Bake Off, Jasmine Mitchell, has described how her Christian faith helped steady her nerves as she baked her way to the title. She is 23, a medical student in London, and in an interview with Premier Christian News, she said her love of baking stemmed from hospitality being at the heart of her Christian upbringing.
We are holding a media briefing during Interfaith week next Tuesday 11 November at 1200, looking at community relations in Britain today. Guest speakers include Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies; Jonathan Boyd, executive director of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research; Imam Qari Asim, Chair of Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board; and Hasan Moosa Reza, office of the Chief Imam Scotland, on the Drumlanrig Accord. Request the Zoom link from: [email protected]
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| Monday 3 November Prayers in Huntingdon for the ‘healing of our town’ Saint John Henry Newman declared a Doctor of the Church, a rare honour Forty MPs call on government to adopt definition of Islamophobia ‘Proud Muslim’ Zohran Mamdani in pole position to win New York mayor race JD Vance hopes his wife Usha, a Hindu, will convert to Christianity Rave in the nave at Leamington church reportedly cancelled |
| Tuesday 4 November Trump threatens military action against Nigeria over Christian persecution Work to begin on white loop ‘Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer‘ Faith groups meet in Brazil for ‘People’s Summit’ at COP30 Christians Against Poverty urges Chancellor to act on household debt ‘crisis’ The philosopher who argues The Enlightenment got it wrong Methodist leader tells bishops to be bold as democracy is threatened Christian nationalism explored in Robert P Jones interview Heaton Park synagogue’s rabbi guarded after death threat London bus driver suspended after antisemitism claim Hyphen Online holds first conference in London today Future of religion in Britain will be ‘less institutional, more emotional’ |
| Wednesday 5 November Role of SACREs key to proposed changes to Religious Education Lord Khan says urgent need to define Islamophobia as anti-Muslim hate crime rises New York’s first Muslim mayor? CofE group accepts recommendations in Makin review into John Smyth Unification church leader aged 82 released from detention for eye surgery Christmas stamps with pictures of the nativity story |
| Thursday 6 November RE in the national curriculum recognises its ‘critical value in the modern world‘ US Muslim reaction to election of Zohran Mamdani Isle of Man Legislative Council votes to remove bishop’s vote Catholic bishop urges Lords to reject decriminalisation of abortion up to birth Sikh celebration in parliament for birthday of founder Guru Nanak Vatican warning to check rise of Madonna cult Chair of a Bristol Mosque suspended over social media post investigation Durham and Bradford Cathedrals report record visitor numbers this year |
| Friday 7 November Interfaith week launched at St Martin in the Fields Interfaith Declaration for a ‘just, inclusive, compassionate’ Glasgow Pope meets Palestinian president to discuss urgent action on Gaza United Methodists give regional conferences autonomy on LGBTQ policies World Council of Churches says COP30 is a ‘kairos moment’ National Hindu NHS Network set up in Britain Muslim War Memorial faces funding gap as £1m government pledge stalls Bake Off winner says Christian faith strengthened through the contest |
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