At Flixton Girls' School in Manchester, I was specifically asked to talk about the relationship between Christianity and Islam. As it was less than two months since the Manchester Arena bombing, I considered that any talk to schoolchildren about Islam also needed to address violent Islamist extremism since it would be at the front of the pupils' minds.
I recorded the lecture, and it can now be watched below as a self-advancing PowerPoint presentation.
Video
Presentation outline
Christianity and Islam
Commonalities
Differences
Violent Islamist extremism
Where it came from
What to do about it
Bibliography
Q&A
Bibliography
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There are four books mentioned in the bibliography.
I intend to write reviews of the other two, “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth” by Reza Aslan and “Salafi-Jihadism: The History of an Idea” by Shiraz Maher as soon as I can.
Video of presentation: "Christianity and Islam / Violent Islamist Extremism"
Once I found recording presentations worthwhile, I purchased a high quality Sennheiser digital lapel microphone which plugs into the data socket of my iPhone 6. That produces a much better recording.
A partial transcript of the question and answer session
The question and answer session was also recorded. However, I am not publishing the full audio recording for two main reasons:
While the sound quality of my responses is very clear, the questioners were some distance from the microphone. Accordingly, in many cases their questions are almost inaudible.
I respect the privacy of those asking the questions. I do not have their written consent to publish their recordings. In many cases, I do not even know who they were, so cannot seek permission.
Instead, I have listened to the Q&A session and, where I regard the questions as being worth sharing, have written down a condensed version of the questions. I have then published the audio of my answers.
As you can see the pupils’ questions ranged much wider than just the subject of the presentation.
1. You started life in a poor family. What made you want to succeed in life?
Recording of my 1-minute answer
2. Do you believe that all of the religions you have been through today are treated equally by everyone?
Recording of my 1-minute answer
3. You talked about the importance of preventing young people from becoming radicalised, and put most emphasis on the responsibility of parents. Surely more weight should be given to the role of the media in radicalising people with the news that is fed to them?
8. Had the above killing influenced me towards my work on community cohesion?
Recording of my 30-second answer
9. Some people argue that if they cannot change the government of their country by democratic means, then they are justified in engaging in terrorist actions. What is your opinion?
Recording of my 1-minute answer
10. Given your deprived background, what was your motivation in applying to Cambridge University and why Clare College?
In my reply I mention my Clare College Alumnus of the Year Speech. I also mention how the receptionist at the Carlton Club once assumed that I had come to pick up the mail!
Recording of my 4-minute answer
11. You tell us to go to the best university we can get into. But isn’t the current government making social mobility more difficult? Specifically by raising tuition fees, and even by policies such as the abolition of free school meals for poorer children?
As well as answering the point about tuition fees, I explained in detail how Cambridge and Oxford do not discriminate against applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, including my own experience. My reply mentions the Laura Spence affair.
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