Carol Concerts and Me

Leeds University Union is tomorrow the host of a particularly early carol concert on December 1st, put on as a joint spectacle by Christian Unions from both the University of Leeds and the Leeds Met. The early date is presumably assure the largest possible student audience as students will soon be drifting off back home. Engaging with an increasingly recalcitrant and stratified student population is becoming increasingly difficult at the best of times, so I can't say I blame the CU's for striking while the iron is still somewhat luke-warm.

Normally I attend as I enjoy the sense of nostalgia from previous enforced attendance at numerous childhood carol concerts accompanied by some tedious acting role in a nativity play, as well as presenting me with the opportunity to snaffle half a dozen free mince pies. I am particularly prone to bouts of nostalgia (no doubt linked in some way to my love of history) so despite knowing better I feel pulled into attending. Of course this shared communal nostalgia is exactly what the CU's are hoping to cash in on, for them this is the grand daddy of evangelical events, a once a year opportunity to present the saving Gospel of their Lord Jesus Christ to as many unbelievers as possible. Easter just does not compare for getting bums on seats! The contract we (non-Christians) all sign when we attend these events is implicit rather than explicit: we get some free refreshments and get so sing all the old favourites, and in return you have to sit there and listen to a roughly half hour evangelical message. Being an enormous sucker, I am still willing to make this deal.

This year's event holds particular interest to me as part way through the evening's 'entertainment' is a talk about the Christmas message by none other than Amy Orr-Ewing. Having a particular interest in evangelical Christianity (largely under the classical Sun-Tzu principle of knowing one's enemy) I am well aware that Amy ranks probably among the best and brightest of all UK evangelicals concerned directly with higher levels of Christian apologia, receiving a first class degree in Theology at Christ Church, Oxford and an MA in theology from King's College before turning her hand to professional writing. I have spent many an hour listening to her talks and presentations online and am rather shamefully excited to see her 'live'. Perhaps this will be a chance to cross swords with a genuine Christian intellect? Sadly, I will probably just stuff some mince pies into my scruffy rucksack and shuffle out of the back entrance once the festivities are over, as I don't think my philosophy of religion is quite in her league.