CONVERSATIONS & TALKS
These are dialogue sessions between one or more speakers, usually lasting an hour or more. Most events are at St John's but a number of events are at other venues across the city.
We have a tremendous line-up this year featuring Richard Moore and Charles Inness, Simon Callow, William Dalrymple with Norman Drummond, Atta Yaqub, Archbishop Elias Chacour of Galilee, Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp, Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ji, Oliver McTernan, Azeem Ibrahim, General Sir Hugh Beach, Martin Bright, Trevor Royle, Lama Yeshe Losal, Bishop Brian Smith, Julian Baggini, Toby Ord, Richard Holloway, Philippe Sands QC and many more.
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box office open now! www.hubtickets.co.uk or 0131 473 2000
 | SUNDAY 8th AUGUST THE GLOBAL DEBT PROBLEM: THE ISLAMIC SOLUTION FREE Is boom and bust inevitable? Why does the value of money keep on failing? Why is the whole world now in debt? In this lecture, Tarek El Diwany proposes an alternative monetary and financial system that eradicates the problems of indebtedness. Tarek is a senior member at Zest Advisory LLP, a London-based firm providing consulting services in Islamic banking and finance. He is also the author of a book The Problem with Interest. |
Azeem Ibrahim | SUNDAY 8th AUGUST LAUNCH EVENT: The Festival of Spirituality and Peace seeks to bring longstanding faith principles to bear on current global and social issues. An outstanding example of that is the Jubilee movement, which mobilised unprecedented numbers of people to campaign against global poverty and together with Jubilee Scotland, we celebrate 10 years of activity this year. Join us as we explore how people of all faiths and none can make it a common cause to practice compassion in a troubled world and to live by the ‘Golden Rule’ – as we launch joint resource materials for use by those with overseas links. With contributions from various Festival artists and special guest and keynote speaker Azeem Ibrahim, Scottish Muslim of the Year. |
Simon Callow | MONDAY 9th AUGUST LIVING WITH DEMENTIA: MY MOTHER AND I £6 (£4) 10.30am – 11.45am at St John’s (venue 127) “My mother, Yvonne, lives in that twilight zone variously called senility, dementia or Alzheimer’s… She is on some sort of subterranean voyage, travelling towards death, making I know not what astonishing discoveries which she appears to have neither need nor desire to communicate. It is as if she were on a spaceship beyond the reach of telecommunications: one can only guess what kind of provisions she might require and try to provide them for her.” |
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Azeem Ibrahim MONDAY 9th AUGUST FESTIVAL LECTURE: What would our politics, our economics, our business practice, our religion look like if we lived by The Golden Rule? Azeem Ibrahim, Scottish Muslim of the Year, launches the Festival drawing on his wide experience as a financier, a philanthropist, an academic, a community activist, a columnist, an advisor to governments and a soldier. 
THE GOLDEN RULE: CAN WE LIVE BY IT? £8 (£6)
5.30pm – 6.45pm at St John’s (venue 127)
In conversation with Ian Galloway, convener of the Church and Society Council, Church of Scotland.
In collaboration with Islam Festival Edinburgh www.islamfestival.com 
THURSDAY 12th AUGUST IS THERE ANY PLACE FOR RECONCILIATION IN THE MIDST OF VIOLENT CONFLICT? FREE Robi Damelin lost her son in the Israeli-Arab conflict and Seham Ikhlayel lost her brother and her other brother spent four years in an Israeli prison. They are members of Parents Circle-Families Forum, a grassroots organization of 500 bereaved Palestinians and Israelis. Together they promote reconciliation and non-violence as an alternative to hatred and revenge through many educational and artistic projects. For more information visit www.theparentscircle.org This event is supported by the Friends of the Bereaved Families Forum www.FamiliesForum.co.uk with sponsorship from the Scottish Palestinian Forum and Christian Aid. After the event, we invite you to view the Cartooning in Conflict exhibition created by Parents Circle-Families Forum. It will be hanging in the World Café @ St John’s from 7 to 13 August. See p32 for more details 
12 noon – 1pm at St John’s (venue 127)
Rabbi Awraham Sr Maureen FRIDAY 13th AUGUST THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION £6 (£4)11.30am – 12.30pm at St John’s (venue 127) The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp, President of the Jacob Soetendorp Institute for Human Values and Sr Maureen Goodman, from the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (and thousands of others who are signatories to the Charter for Compassion) argue that we urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Is this possible? In conversation with Andrew Lyon of the International Futures Forum. In collaboration with the International Futures Forum. 
Martin Bright FRIDAY 13th AUGUST ANTI-SEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA £6 (£4) 2pm – 3pm at St John’s (venue 127) Martin Bright, political editor of the Jewish Chronicle (and formerly of the New Statesman) and presenter of C4’s ‘Who Speaks for the Muslims?’ discusses Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia – and other expressions of discrimination or hate crime – with members of the Jewish and Muslim communities. When does comment or criticism of a group become discriminatory and how much objection to the criticism is ‘crying wolf’? 
SATURDAY 14th AUGUST RELIGION AND HUMAN RIGHTS £6 (£4) Religion is often held up as a problem for those promoting the rights of women, LGBT people and others – and yet ‘freedom of religion’ is also one of the principles of recent equality and human rights legislation. Do the advocates of human rights and equality really understand ‘faith’ and the worldview of religions? Do people of faith understand the drive to equality and human rights, or do they see this as solely a secular agenda? Can divergent views be reconciled? With Sr Isabel Smyth, Rosemary McIlwhan (human rights and equality consultant) and, we hope, you: as part of a diverse audience. SATURDAY 14th AUGUST WHEN I FEED THE HUNGRY, THEY CALL ME A SAINT – WHEN I ASK WHY THEY ARE STARVING…? £6 (£4) 12noon – 1pm at St John’s (venue 127) On 16 May 1998, 60,000 people demonstrated at the Birmingham G8 summit to have poor country debt cancelled by the year 2000 according to the Old Testament principle of ‘the Jubilee Year’. People of faith have been central to the mass movement to ‘make poverty history’ and here we explore the driving principles each faith offers – with Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh, a visionary Sikh leader, Habib Malik from Islamic Relief, winner of the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award 2010 and Kathy Galloway, head of Christian Aid in Scotland. In collaboration with Jubilee Scotland
10.30am – 11.30am at St John’s (venue 127) 
Richard Harries SATURDAY 14th AUGUST KEYNOTE: Can we have a politics we can believe in? Can we move beyond the scandals, the partisan political discourse and the alienation of the public to a recovery of the values of public service, of ‘making a difference for the better’ and of trust between elected and electors? Richard Harries, former Bishop of Oxford, ethicist and life peer and author of the newly published Faith in Politics? examines the roots of our political values in conversation with Iain Macwhirter, Scotland’s foremost political commentator. 
FAITH IN POLITICS? £8 (£6)
2pm – 3.15pm at St John’s (venue 127) 
MONDAY 16th AUGUST KEYNOTE: From hi-tech weaponry to nuclear weapons, the technology available to powerful nations has made current conflicts highly ‘assymetrical’, often with heavy civilian casualties. Contrasting public voices ask how war can be measured and limited by the Golden Rule and how far modern military training prepares soldiers to face these life and death issues. With General Sir Hugh Beach, Trevor Royle, trustee of Combat Stress and George Wilkes, director of the Religion and Ethics in War and Peace Making programme. FRIDAY 20th AUGUST KEYNOTE: Noted for his efforts to promote reconciliation between Arabs and Israelis, Archbishop Elias Chacour, a Palestinian-born Christian and Israeli citizen embodies in his own story the struggle for peace. Here he discusses his struggle to be a light in the darkness and to model the ways of peace in conversation with Kathy Galloway, head of Christian Aid Scotland. 
LIFE AND DEATH ON THE FRONT LINE £8 (£6)
5.30pm – 6.45pm at St John’s (venue 127) 
BLOOD BROTHERS £8 (£6)
11.30am – 12.30pm at St John’s (venue 127) 
FRIDAY 20th AUGUST CELIBACY: GIFT OR CURSE? £6 (£4) In some religious traditions celibacy is seen as a sign of devotion 
2.00pm – 3.00pm at St John’s (venue 127)
and a commitment to holiness and purity. Others see it more
problematically and in some cultures it is not regarded positively.
Some have argued that mandatory celibacy in the Catholic
priesthood is damaging to the individual and the institution. We
explore different faith perspectives with Abbot Rinpoche Lama Yeshe of Samye Ling Monastery and Fr Chris Boles SJ who will be in conversation with John Armes. 
THE FESTIVAL LECTURE - Friday 20th August at 7.30pm 
 | THE PROMISE OF THE PROMISED LAND £8 (£6) Archbishop Elias Chacour of Galilee is working to create his own biblical vision of the Holy Land, in which people of all faiths live together in peace. Named ‘Man of the Year’ in Israel in 2001, his advocacy of non-violence and his inspirational work and teaching give grounds for believing that if we can live by the Golden Rule, common to all faiths, we can reach the promised land of peace. In collaboration with St Mary's RC Metropolitain Cathedral |
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 | SATURDAY 21st AUGUST THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE BISHOP £6 (£4) Is the ‘Golden Rule’ to treat others as you would be treated yourself a religiously inspired principle or an innate human ethic? Is it a call to other-centredness or self-centredness? Julian Baggini editor of The Philosophers’ Magazine and author of ‘Atheism: A Very Short Introduction’ discusses uses and abuses of the Golden Rule with Bishop Brian Smith. |
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 | SATURDAY 21st AUGUST WHO WANTS TO GIVE A MILLION AWAY? £6 (£4) Toby Ord hit the headlines in 2009 for announcing that he would give away 10% of his salary (plus anything he earns over £20,000) for the rest of his life, calculating that the sum given over his lifetime would represent “500,000 years of healthy living” for the beneficiaries. In conversation with Lesley Riddoch, journalist and broadcaster. |
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| SATURDAY 21st AUGUST KEYNOTE: In his acclaimed books From the Holy Mountain and Nine Lives, William Dalrymple introduces us to holy men and mystics, people past and present who have lived out their faith in extraordinary ways. Here he discusses the human search for meaning with Norman Drummond, whose lifelong quest has been to help people realise their ‘inner greatness’. |
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 | SUNDAY 22nd AUGUST MUSLIM WOMEN: IMAGES AND REALITIES FREE Rehana Saddiq shares her experience as a Muslim woman and analyses the various challenges faced in contemporary Muslim and secular societies. Part of Islam Festival Edinburgh. |
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 | MONDAY 23rd AUGUST KEYNOTE: Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Edinburgh, writer, broadcaster and friend of the Festival looks at the place of religion in the modern world, asking if religions necessarily lock us into the cultural norms of distant, mainly patriarchal, cultures. Can religion and society cohabit – or will they inevitably go their own ways? |
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 | FRIDAY 27th AUGUST DO, DON’T, OR LEAVE WELL ALONE: A cross-party panel of Parliamentarians discusses the role of legislation in restricting or permitting our behaviour towards each other. With the Scottish Parliament and Westminster passing dozens of pieces of legislation each year more and more of our daily activities have become subject to law. In this context it is increasingly important to reflect on the implications of living the Golden Rule within an externally imposed framework. In association with the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office. Participants include; Brian Smith MSP (SNP), Malcolm Chisholm MSP (Labour), Hugh O'Donnell MSP (Lib Dem) |
 | Spirit of the Festival – Special Event CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE £6 (£4) In 1972, at the height of the difficulties in Northern Ireland after the events of ‘Bloody Sunday’, a 10 year old Richard Moore was blinded by a rubber bullet fired at point blank range into his face. The remarkable thing is that Richard never allowed anger or bitterness to shape his future. “I learned to see life in a different way”, is how he describes his remarkable acceptance of what, for most, would be a debilitating trauma. Richard Moore founded a charitable organisation ‘Children in Crossfire’ which is now an international organisation working to protect and promote the rights of some the world’s most vulnerable children. In 2006 Richard met and befriended Charles Inness the soldier who shot him. At this ‘Spirit of the Festival’ special event we welcome both Richard and Charles to speak together about what happens when enemies see one another differently. This is a remarkable and inspirational story of compassion, forgiveness, friendship and peace making. In conversation with David Denniston. |
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SATURDAY 28th AUGUST WAR - IN GOD’S NAME? £6 (£4) The great world religions commonly claim to be religions of peace but many perceive religion as the major cause of war and conflict. What is the relationship between religion and violence – from the ‘clash of civilisations’ to violence against migrants? With Oliver McTernan, director of Forward Thinking, former RC priest, broadcaster and writer, now Senior Associate Fellow of the UK Defence Academy, whose book Violence in God’s Name explores the role of religion in an age of conflict. In conversation with Ewan Aitken. 
10.30am -11.30am at St John’s (venue 127)
In association with Church of Scotland Church and Society Council 
SATURDAY 28th AUGUST SO MUCH FOR THE RULE OF LAW £6 (£4) The rule of law is much trumpeted, especially in the west, as the means of enshrining the rights of all and protecting citizens against abuse. And yet, as Philippe Sands QC argues in Lawless World and Torture Team the West has recently flouted its own principles. Can we regain a commitment to the rule of law as an expression of the Golden Rule - treating other people, other nations as we would like to be treated? In conversation with Aamer Anwar, a prominent Scottish human rights lawyer. 
12noon -1pm at St John’s (venue 127)
SATURDAY 28th AUGUST KEYNOTE: GOD IS BACK… ? £8 (£6) Are we now entering a post-secular age? After decades when we have assumed that religion has been relegated to the private sphere, or even that ‘God is dead’, is God now back? John McIntyre from the Scottish Pagan Federation, Don Cupitt, author of Theology’s Strange Return and Bishop Brian Smith discuss the place of religion in the 21st century. 
2pm – 3.15pm at St John’s (venue 127) 
box office open now! www.hubtickets.co.uk or 0131 473 2000