I live in Leicester UK, a city of 300k and one of the most diverse in the country (the home religions of children in our primary state schools in the 2011 census were: None: 25, Christian: 18, Hindu: 13, Muslim: 31, Sikh: 4. We get on well together but in our separate ways.

I have just headed the city’s first TEDx event – www.tedxleicester.com (videos are being edited) and am moving on to a bigger TEDxLeicester in 2016 and a series of TEDx salons.

I aim to use BIG History ideas in the full-day TEDx to provide a context for appreciation of humanity that will bring people together as human beings – informed and engaged. Hopefully, bringing science and religion together under one roor - humanity.

This will not be confrontational: I am on good terms with all communities and expect support from them, drawing on their cultures (eg I would like all, not just Muslims to be proud of Cordoba and Baghdad) – see  profile below. I will also be drawing on our two universities.

My concern, please correct me if I am mistaken, is that Big History needs more on social and religious aspects (I’m rather fond of the Putney debates:

1647: Colonel Thomas Rainborough, Putney Debates 1647 (http://www.constitution.org/lev/eng_lev_08.htm)

... For really I think that the poorest he that is in England has a life to live as the greatest he; and therefore truly, sir, I think it's clear that every man that is to live under a government ought first by his own consent to put himself under that government; and I do think that the poorest man in England is not at all bound in a strict sense to that government that he has not had a voice to put himself under.

For a context see http://www.bl.uk/takingliberties

Allan

allan-hayes@ntlworld.com

Profile

Allan Hayes, PhD, FRSA
After BA and PhD in Maths (Trinity College, Cambridge) and a  career with MIT, Purdue University, Leicester University and Wolfram Research, I am now deeply concerned with relations involving people and groups and their beliefs – serving on committees, giving talks, writing articles and letters, tweeting and posting.

Organisations:
FRSA, Leicester Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (Humanist representative), Sea of Faith Network (past board member), All Faiths And None (trustee), Leicester Secular Society (past president), British Humanist Association (past board member), National Secular Society, St Philips (Leicesater) Religion and Belief Roadshow (visiting schools), Leicester College Chaplaincy Team, Friends of Evington (president).