91Èȱ¬

The hand-made placard was defiant.  ‘We are not afraid,’ it declared.  An admirable token of resistance, maybe, after one of the worst weeks in Manchester’s history.

But not everyone feels the same way.   The bomb which produced such carnage has left many in the city, and across the country, more fearful, understandably wary of crowded venues lest the unthinkable happens again.

The statistical possibility of coming to harm might be tiny, yet fear of many kinds can still limit us.   Why do we allow it such control?   How can we deal with it?   And to what extent does a religious faith make any difference?

On All Things Considered this week Roy Jenkins discusses fear with:
Dr Ahmed Darwish a consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and chair of the Muslim Council of Wales.

Akhandadhi das, a Hindu theologian originally from Belfast, he grew up there during the time of ‘The Troubles’.

Dr Heather Payne a consultant paediatrician.

Col. Robbie Hall who was responsible before his retirement for bomb disposal training across all three of Britain’s armed services – the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force. He was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal, and is currently training for ministry at the South Wales Baptist College.