In relation to class, God, the Church – whichever [...Read Article]]]> I was brought up in a God fearing environment.  And that’s what I remember – the fear.  My parents were Irish, working class and devout Catholics and from where I stood as a child, there seemed to be a lot to fear.

In relation to class, God, the Church – whichever way you looked at it, it felt to me like we were pretty near the bottom of the heap. My parents were struggling for their children to get somewhere near ‘the middle’.  But even this struggle involved the fear of religious hierarchy.  I remember one argument my mum used as to why we should go to church, If the priest doesn’t see you at Mass, he won’t write you a reference and you’ll never get a job.

But this was just my mum reflecting her experience of the stranglehold that Catholicism had over the Irish society she had been born into.  Whereas we were growing up in an enlightened, progressive Britain where religion was a choice… weren’t we?

Now an adult with a small child, I am amazed to find myself surrounded by middle class, educated, urban sophisticates with, you guessed it – the fear.

 As the parent of a three year old, destined to start school next year, I can tell you that the fear of jeopardising your kid’s future, condemning them to a poor education or an environment with less than perfect companions – is pretty contagious. The kids I see on the bus from the local comp all seem perfectly polite and personable to me, but then there are the stories you hear, prescient with the fear…

(If you don’t want the fear, whatever you do don’t talk to teachers of your acquaintance.)

The play I have written challenges the principle of separating our children along religious lines and educating them accordingly.  However, I myself have recently been drifting (albeit at glacial speed)  towards the Anglicanism that my play CATCHMENT CHRISTIANS is in part challenging. I will never know if my continuing longing for faith and some sort of religious engagement is a genuine impulse or a hangover from my strict Catholic upbringing.

But if my drift towards Anglicanism continues, I am aware that I could end up being the only parent attending church who has the stated aim of not having her child attend a religious school…

Reader, what have I done?

CATCHMENT CHRISTIANS IS ON AT THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE, JEWELLERY QUARTER, BIRMINGHAM, WED 4^TH – SAT 7^TH MAY 2011 www.frictiontheatre.com 

AND BROMSGROVE ARTRIX SAT 14^TH MAY 2011 www.artrix.co.uk

Helen Kelly

Following the success of the independent documentary “Turbanology: After 7/7″, journalist and filmmaker Jay Singh- Sohal explores the social and political significance of the turban post 9/11, this time through art.

As [...Read Article]]]>  On Friday 10th June, Niskham Civic Associaton, Birimingham will host the official launch of the “Turbanology: Sikhs Unwrapped” exhibition.

Following the success of the independent documentary “Turbanology: After 7/7″, journalist and filmmaker Jay Singh- Sohal explores the social and political significance of the turban post 9/11, this time through art.

As Exhibition Director, Jay Singh-Sohal says the project aims to be educational, fun but most importantly a hands-on experience: “This groundbreaking art exhibit will provide a unique and colourful insight into what Sikhs consider their crown. Through art and photography the turban will be demystified, unwrapping layer by layer peoples lack of understanding, prejudice or ignorance of this key Sikh symbol in a colourful, informative and interactive way.”

In addtion to specially commissioned films and a Q&A with the exhibit team, keynote speakers including Dr Mohinder Singh (Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewa Jatha) and Gurinder Singh Mandla (who fought the turban ban in 1983 aged only 17) will provide in depth knowledge of the turban’s spirtual importance and the Sikh Turban Rights Movement which resulted in the pivotal House of Lords Turban ruling.

The touring exhbition allows children the opportunity to learn about the Sikh faith through workshops, hosted by Sikh storyteller Roop Singh. The interactive sessions include turban tying and stories from British and Sikh history.

For full details of the exhibition including tour dates click on the following link  Turbanlogy – British Sikhs Unwrapped

THESE DAYS it seems we’re all looking for transcendence. Whether it is religious in origin or brought on by meditation, travel, a trip [...Read Article]]]> Art and religion share a long and fruitful history, but the relationship between the two has become strained, despite the fact they each ask the same age-old questions

THESE DAYS it seems we’re all looking for transcendence. Whether it is religious in origin or brought on by meditation, travel, a trip to the cinema, music, a glorious sunset or reading the latest new-age spiritual book, the need for the experience of being transported from your daily self to a higher plane has never been stronger. So why is it that art and religion appear never to have been farther apart?

To read the full article click here

To read the full story click the link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/arts/design/13curators.html

A ground breaking paper written by Dr Umar Faruq Abd-Allah of the Nawawi Foundation in Chicago.

Islam and the Cultural Imperative