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In the aftermath of the terrorist atrocities in France, there鈥檚 been wide discussion -听 about the limits of free speech, the threats to shared values, the importance of resisting extremism, and much more.

The claims and anxieties of religious communities have inevitably figured prominently.听 The French President said this week that Muslims were the main victims of fanaticism, and pledged that his country would protect people of all religions.听听

A Welsh Muslim leader鈥檚 New Year message spoke of young people here being exposed to 鈥榳holesale Islamophobia鈥�; and a group campaigning against anti-semitism claims that more than half of British Jewish people "fear Jews have no future in the UK".

This programme explores how our perception of events is shaped by those who tell us about them - journalists, broadcasters, teachers of all kinds; and we ask how much they understand of the religious issues involved.听 And what of the politicians making crucial decisions?听 How important is religious literacy to holding any society together - and to global security?听

Joining Roy Jenkins are Grace Davie, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Exeter University, whose influential book Religion in Britain since 1945 is about to appear in a revised version;听 Merryl Wyn Davies, a journalist, author and Associate Editor of the journal 鈥楥ritical Muslim鈥�; the Rev. Aled Edwards, Chief Executive of Cytun, Churches Together in Wales who has a long track record of working with politicians, refugees and people of non-Christian faiths; and Dr. Jenny Taylor of Lapido Media who hosted the recent launch of the report 鈥淩eligion, Security and Global Uncertainties鈥�.

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