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| Tony Blair's faith in new mission | Tony Blair's faith in new mission |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Christopher Landau BBC religious affairs correspondent Mr Blair says he is committed to his faith project for the long-term | By Christopher Landau BBC religious affairs correspondent Mr Blair says he is committed to his faith project for the long-term |
| As prime minister, he famously "didn't do God" but, having left office, Tony Blair is travelling the world to launch his new Faith Foundation. The BBC has had exclusive access to the foundation's early work. | As prime minister, he famously "didn't do God" but, having left office, Tony Blair is travelling the world to launch his new Faith Foundation. The BBC has had exclusive access to the foundation's early work. |
| On a cold winter's day in New Haven, Connecticut, Tony Blair is preparing for a new challenge teaching. | |
| His new inter-faith foundation has linked with Yale University and launched a new course, on Faith and Globalisation. | His new inter-faith foundation has linked with Yale University and launched a new course, on Faith and Globalisation. |
| As we walk to the seminar, surrounded by photographers and tight security, the former prime minister tells me why he has entered the classroom: | As we walk to the seminar, surrounded by photographers and tight security, the former prime minister tells me why he has entered the classroom: |
| "If globalisation is a force pushing people together, does religion become a force pulling people apart? | "If globalisation is a force pushing people together, does religion become a force pulling people apart? |
| "In the light of what's going on in the world, they are important themes to explore." | "In the light of what's going on in the world, they are important themes to explore." |
| In front of 25 handpicked students from diverse religious backgrounds, Mr Blair leads discussions about the complex dilemmas politicians face when taking account of religious belief. | In front of 25 handpicked students from diverse religious backgrounds, Mr Blair leads discussions about the complex dilemmas politicians face when taking account of religious belief. |
| I'm really and always have been in a way more interested in religion than politics Tony Blair Blair talks of his spiritual side | I'm really and always have been in a way more interested in religion than politics Tony Blair Blair talks of his spiritual side |
| He gives examples of controversial incidents during his premiership including debates over euthanasia, gay adoption and abortion. | He gives examples of controversial incidents during his premiership including debates over euthanasia, gay adoption and abortion. |
| The questions from the students are tough, but Mr Blair clearly relishes the open debate free of a party line which must be defended. | The questions from the students are tough, but Mr Blair clearly relishes the open debate free of a party line which must be defended. |
| At one point, he says with a laugh: "I think I kind of got my whole life the wrong way round. I should have started with the conceptual debate first and then gone on to the practice." | At one point, he says with a laugh: "I think I kind of got my whole life the wrong way round. I should have started with the conceptual debate first and then gone on to the practice." |
| The decision by one of the world's leading universities to partner with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation is something of a coup as it begins its work. | The decision by one of the world's leading universities to partner with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation is something of a coup as it begins its work. |
| The academic course is just one part of the planned work of the Foundation. | The academic course is just one part of the planned work of the Foundation. |
| It has other educational programmes planned, including the production of impartial religious education materials, and the development of a new inter-faith centre in London. | It has other educational programmes planned, including the production of impartial religious education materials, and the development of a new inter-faith centre in London. |
| What makes the foundation's work distinctive is its emphasis on uniting people of different religious traditions in practical action with the eradication of malaria a key priority. | What makes the foundation's work distinctive is its emphasis on uniting people of different religious traditions in practical action with the eradication of malaria a key priority. |
| 'Committed' | 'Committed' |
| Young people are being recruited to work for the foundation as "Faiths Act Fellows", promoting the fight against malaria across religious divides. | Young people are being recruited to work for the foundation as "Faiths Act Fellows", promoting the fight against malaria across religious divides. |
| So what has motivated Mr Blair to devote much of his time to a cause that could hardly be described as fashionable? | So what has motivated Mr Blair to devote much of his time to a cause that could hardly be described as fashionable? |
| "I'm really and always have been in a way more interested in religion than politics," he tells me. | "I'm really and always have been in a way more interested in religion than politics," he tells me. |
| The concept of an inter-faith foundation pre-dates him becoming leader of the Labour party or prime minister, he says. | The concept of an inter-faith foundation pre-dates him becoming leader of the Labour party or prime minister, he says. |
| And the launch of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation is a response to him being "really, really committed to finding a way of making religious faith relevant to the modern world". | And the launch of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation is a response to him being "really, really committed to finding a way of making religious faith relevant to the modern world". |
| Mr Blair says the secular world needs to understand religion, and religions need to understand each other. | Mr Blair says the secular world needs to understand religion, and religions need to understand each other. |
| Mr Blair says people from diverse religions must unite in practical action | Mr Blair says people from diverse religions must unite in practical action |
| "I believe this whole issue to do with interfaith is absolutely where the 21st century needs to be in social and cultural terms," he says. | "I believe this whole issue to do with interfaith is absolutely where the 21st century needs to be in social and cultural terms," he says. |
| "So I've got a very clear strategic sense of it as well. A powerful sense of mission on it. Every bit as powerful as I felt in politics." | "So I've got a very clear strategic sense of it as well. A powerful sense of mission on it. Every bit as powerful as I felt in politics." |
| Some are unconvinced by this transformation from politician to religious campaigner. | Some are unconvinced by this transformation from politician to religious campaigner. |
| Huda Jawad, director of the Muslim charity Forward Thinking, says she has doubts about levels of support from Muslims, given Tony Blair's foreign policy record while prime minister. | Huda Jawad, director of the Muslim charity Forward Thinking, says she has doubts about levels of support from Muslims, given Tony Blair's foreign policy record while prime minister. |
| She says that it is difficult to reconcile Blair the prime minister and Blair the leader of a faith foundation. | She says that it is difficult to reconcile Blair the prime minister and Blair the leader of a faith foundation. |
| But Mr Blair says that some of the best response to the foundation has been from the Islamic world. | But Mr Blair says that some of the best response to the foundation has been from the Islamic world. |
| And he is keen to point out to his critics that whatever early problems he may encounter, this is not a short-term project. | And he is keen to point out to his critics that whatever early problems he may encounter, this is not a short-term project. |
| "This is not for me a 'this year and next year' project. This is a rest of my life project. So over time people will be able to see you in a different light," he says. | "This is not for me a 'this year and next year' project. This is a rest of my life project. So over time people will be able to see you in a different light," he says. |
| Blair's Faith Foundation will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday 14 April 2009, at 2000 BST. | Blair's Faith Foundation will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday 14 April 2009, at 2000 BST. |