When the news of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks broke, I was working in an office on Holywell Hill, St Albans. A friend rang to give me the news.

But the dial-up internet connection could not pick up any news websites, the office radio would not work, and we had no TV.

While millions of other people were glued to TV screens and computers – this was long before smartphones – I felt out of touch and isolated.

It was only later at home I could switch on the TV and begin hours of watching, morbidly fascinated by the dreadful footage.

In a way, it seems a long time ago in a different world – where it was possible to be excluded from the globe’s biggest news story.

In another way, it seems like yesterday. Terrorism has stayed in the headlines. Foreign policy decisions made in the wake of that day haunt today’s politicians. Fanatics continue to give religion a bad name.

So I welcome any moves to help different faiths understand each other.

More than that, men and women of all faiths have a role to play together in explaining why they believe to a world that’s looking on with scepticism and suspicion.

In a post 9/11 world, it’s up to all of us who take our faith seriously to be open about what we believe, to be ready to debate and explain our beliefs – and to make the case for faith having a positive effect on our world.

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