Shane Logan is chief executive officer of the Bryson Charitable Group and a former CEO of Ulster Rugby.
. Can you tell us something about yourself?
A. I'm 57 and I am married with two children at university, whom I'm very proud of. My family is hugely important to me. I'm from Bangor, but I lived away for most of my late teens and 20s. My childhood memories are very happy and my late parents were profoundly loving, encouraging, funny and resilient. With four, often headstrong, children, they had to be.
My father spent the latter part of the Second World War in the RAF as a navigator in Lancasters before a career in business and for many years he was managing director of the Ormeau Bakery. My mother left school without any formal qualifications at 14, but latterly she enjoyed studying with the Open University. Their integrity and sense of duty shaped us. I studied law at Manchester University and I have run several organisations. I am currently chief executive of the Bryson Charitable Group.
Q. How and when did you come to faith?
A. I was not brought up as a Christian, but I had called on God at times of greatest difficulty - when there was a real chance of having my leg amputated and when my baby daughter was gravely ill. I was always helped, but never stopped to thank God. When my first marriage broke down, in total grief/despair/failure and at the end of my ability to cope, I cried out to God for help. He answered and this time I had the wit to say thank you and stay close.
Q. Does this faith play a real part in your life, or is it only for Sundays?
A. It is my life.
Q. Have you ever had a crisis of faith, or a gnawing doubt about your faith?
A. No. While I have plenty of doubts about me, I have none about God.
Q. Have you ever been angry with God? And, if so, why?
A. No.
Q. Do you ever get criticised for your faith? And are you able to live with that criticism?
A. Frequently. It can be difficult, but so is standing up for anything that you believe is true. It's inevitable. Opposition to trying to do the right thing can be confirmation that you're on the right track. It's also sometimes an opportunity to share my faith with others.
At Ulster Rugby, we were required by the competition organisers to play occasionally on a Sunday. While some of us weren't keen and were heavily criticised, we tried to turn it to our advantage. When we beat Munster in the quarter-final of the Heineken Cup on Easter Sunday 2012 in Limerick, some of us held our own short service in the week before. When having to play a home match against Scarlets, we met beforehand with several Church leaders, who agreed to move their service times and to hold extra services and hospitality for spectators. The neighbouring churches were full and there were no protests.
Q. Are you ever ashamed of your own Church, or denomination?
A. I think the Christian Churches do immense good, but being filled with people like me, they will make many mistakes. Judgment, self-justification, division and sometimes remoteness might be some of the worst qualities we need to overcome.
Q. Are you afraid to die? Or can you look beyond death?
A. No. I look forward to Heaven, but perhaps not for a while.
Q. Are you afraid of hell?
A. No. Believing in good means that you also understand that the opposite is evil, or hell. I believe the response to bad things is goodness, the source of which is God.
Q. Do you believe in a resurrection? And, if so, what will it be like?
A. Yes. I don't know what it will look like and (maybe wrongly) I don't worry about it. God is in charge of that, so I don't need to worry.
.Q What do you think about people of other denominations and other faiths?
A I respect and relish discussing all views. This helps build respect, understanding and tolerance. It grows us all. At Ulster Rugby, it was a privilege for me to work with my counterparts from the GAA and IFA and also to work with political leaders from all parties. We were united in promoting the goodness of sport and health. We learned from and backed each other. We achieved the redevelopment of two of the three grounds. Hopefully, Casement will follow soon. Sharing a platform in a cathedral with Mickey Harte was special for me.
Q. Would you be comfortable in stepping out from your own faith and trying to learn something from other people?
A. I want to grow closer to God and to help others to do the same. I believe that can only be done through Jesus. But if I don't understand and respect other points of view, I'm not going to be much use in helping to bridge the gap between what they and I believe.
Q. Do you think that the Churches here are fulfilling their mission?
A. While they do vital and often unrecognised work, we all have so much more to do.
Q. Why are so many people turning their backs on organised religion?
A. Everyone has a free choice. Perhaps, as Christians, we need to be better at following Jesus's example and meeting people at their points of need, not where we think they should be. It took me nearly 40 years to believe in God, so I can understand how some religious language and behaviour can put people off. I think plain, straightforward language from the heart works best - to each other and to God.
Q. Has religion helped, or hindered, the people of Northern Ireland?
A. God's love, goodness and forgiveness are infinitely helpful. It's very damaging when we allow our human flaws, divisions, judgments and prejudices to prevail.
Q What is your favourite film, book and music, and why?
A The Elephant Man, who was rejected and abused, but found love, acceptance and peace. I watched it with my mother. It reminds me of her. Tess of the D'Urbervilles grips and moves the emotions more than any novel I've read. Barber's Adagio for Strings is the compelling triumph of good over bad.
Q. Where do you feel closest to God?
A. When I take time to ask and listen.
Q. Finally, have you any major regrets?
A. Many. But worst when I don't learn from them. Then they repeat themselves.
