Light, time and the new crescent: an Inter Faith Week for Schools webinar

Light, time and the new crescent: an Inter Faith Week for Schools webinar

Title history
  • Light, time and the new crescent: an Inter Faith Week for Schools webinar — observed on 20261025-1532 UTC (YouTube)

by Cathy Haynes, Baber Siddiqi, and Iona Hine · View the channel on PSI

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Religion & Beliefs QRAReligion: generalQRAFInterfaith relations
🎙 Cathy Haynes, Baber Siddiqi, and Iona Hine 👥 4K 📅 October 10, 2026 ⏱ 62 min 👁 58 📄 science communication 🧭 2026-10-25
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

scratch dialssundialsmoon sightingtime without clocksinterfaith

Summary

This Inter Faith Week webinar, hosted by Dr. Iona Hine of the Cambridge Interfaith Programme, explores the cultural and religious dimensions of time and light. The first part features author Cathy Haynes discussing her book ‘The Fullness of Time,’ covering historical European methods of telling time without clocks—such as scratch dials on church walls, portable sundials, the use of flowers like the marigold, and twilight cues. She highlights how these methods fostered a deep awareness of natural rhythms and contrasts them with modern dependence on precise clocks. The second part features Baber Siddiqi of the New Crescent Society, who explains the practice of sighting the new crescent moon to determine lunar months in Islam, offers practical guidance for November 11, 2026 (sunset around 4:13 PM in Cambridge), and introduces tools like Stellarium and community livestreams. The webinar emphasizes shared human experiences of light, time, and nature across religious traditions, and provides educators with classroom-friendly activities. It also references the Moonsighters Academy collaboration with the Institute of Astronomy and Leeds, which trained nearly 40 British Muslims. The session concludes with reflections on connecting with the cosmos and the value of attentive observation.

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Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The webinar offers valuable insights into how past societies perceived time through direct engagement with the environment, challenging modern assumptions about timekeeping. The argument is well-supported by historical examples, personal anecdotes, and references to contemporary scientific understanding (e.g., plant movements). The speakers make a compelling case for reconnecting with natural time signs as a means of enrichment, particularly in an age dominated by screens and constant connectivity. The reasoning is clear and the evidence is diverse, though some points rely on isolated anecdotes rather than systematic analysis.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The information is presented with rigor, drawing on historical texts, archaeological finds, and expert interviews. The book by Cathy Haynes, published by Bloomsbury and Riverhead, lends credibility, and the involvement of the New Crescent Society adds practical authenticity to the moon sighting segment. The title accurately reflects the content, which is centered on light and time from an interfaith perspective. No comments were provided for analysis, so public reception cannot be assessed.

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Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the two-part structure: first, historical methods of telling time without clocks, and second, the practical and cultural significance of sighting the new crescent moon.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The webinar is hosted by the University of Cambridge's Interfaith Programme, with speakers including an author with a published book (Cathy Haynes) and a practitioner from the New Crescent Society. Historical claims are anchored in research and expert testimony, though some anecdotes are presented as illustrative rather than rigorously verified. The overall reliability is high for an educational outreach event.

Chapters

Cited Sources

  • The Fullness of Time (book) — Cathy Haynes' book on historical timekeeping methods, published by Bloomsbury and Riverhead in 2026.
  • Cambridge Interfaith Programme — Website for further information and follow-up activities related to the webinar.
  • IFW4Schools — Dedicated website for Inter Faith Week for Schools resources.
  • New Crescent Society — Organization led by Baber Siddiqi, promoting moon sighting and lunar calendar awareness.
  • Stellarium — Open-source planetarium software recommended for observing the night sky.

Concurring Sources

  • The Fullness of Time — Cathy Haynes' book aligns with the webinar's content on historical timekeeping.
  • New Crescent Society — Provides consistent information on moon sighting practices.

Contribution & Novelties

This webinar uniquely bridges historical European timekeeping practices and Islamic moon sighting, offering a comparative interfaith perspective that is rarely presented together. It introduces concrete, actionable ideas for educators, such as observing scratch dials or using Stellarium, and connects them to broader themes of light and time. The inclusion of personal stories (e.g., Imad Ahmed’s father’s use of flowers) adds human depth.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Scratch dial — Overview of these medieval sundials found on church walls.
  • Islamic calendar — Explanation of the lunar calendar and moon sighting significance.
  • Stellarium — Free planetarium software for exploring the night sky.
  • Carl Linnaeus — The concept of a flower clock, as referenced in the webinar.

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Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in information quantity and reliability, moderate in technique, and lower in technical complexity, indicating a well-informed yet accessible presentation suitable for a general educational audience.

Reliability 8/10