MDI is pleased to announce the release of a debate held at University College Dublin, on the topic of Secularism, religion and politics: Dublin University Debate: Should Religion have a role in Politics? An Atheist, Protestant, Catholic, Bahai and Muslim debate religion, politics and Secularism (and their respective sects!).

University College Dublin (UCD), in Republic of Ireland! MDI’s Abdullah al Andalusi was  invited to attend and speak as part of a panel discussion ‘Religion in Society‘, organised by the UCD Atheist & Secular Society, Bahai Society, Islamic Society, AGAPE and the [Catholic] Newman Society.

The panel discussion was light hearted, hilarious but very engaging, with the participants robustly debating on whether Secularism or religious informed laws and social values, are the best way to manage the modern world. The debate featured Liberal Christians debating non-Liberal Christian views, a Bahai explaining the position of Bahaism, a Protestant debating a Catholic apologist on the Catholic Church, and a Muslim engaging the Atheist on the issue of Islamic Caliphates, Jihad and Secularism.

The panellists included:

• Scott Evans (UCD Anglican Chaplain, theology writer)
• Kent Chadwick (Bahai speaker, formerly worked at Bahai World Centre, and United States Bahai National Centre)
• Abdullah al Andalusi is an international speaker, debater and the co-founder of the Muslim Debate Initiative.
• Shane (UCD Atheist and Secular Society)
• Jason Conway (UCD [Catholic] Newman Society)