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musings
Theophany & The Cloak of Noise
We live in a world of noise. We are surrounded by noise created, projected by others. We make and project our own noise. Years ago, when the Walkman was the iPod of the moment, I had an anthropology professor who talked about wanting to do a study on the effect of the Walkman. He wondered [...]
Ocean As Desert
On my recent North Sea excursion to Norway and the Orkneys I often enjoyed standing on the outer decks looking out to sea. It struck me that the ocean is, or could be viewed as “the desert” in the same way that third and fourth century ascetics went out into the desert to master the [...]
Theotokos in Art
I have a soft spot for “Marian Art” largely because I have a fascination with the Theotokos. My last year of my bachelor’s degree focussed on early imagery of Mary, and that interest followed through to my PhD research. So this reflection by Judith Dupre was a rather fun read – oh and the rather [...]
Its An Eastern Thing
The Independent yesterday, had an interesting article about the plight of Eastern Christians in the Middle East. You might be aware of a synod recently held in the Vatican to discuss the fact that Christian communities in the Middle East are being actively persecuted, and marginlised to the point that many are fleeing their homelands. [...]
Empty
Last week my office was re-decorated. It was about time too. I’d never changed the colour of the walls which as you can see were a nausiating “Crayola Sunshine Yellow”. Preparing for the arrival of the decorator I had to empty the room in which I spend so much of my time. The bird had [...]
Growth Spurts
Six months ago my garden stopped. Or so it seemed. Leaves turned brown and dropped off. Flowers vanished. Vines ceased producing fruit, withered, and crumbled. Newts, butterflies, moths, dragonflies; even the neighbour’s cat – disappeared. For five months or so I stood on the patio looking out over a brown, crumpled, lifeless trapezoid (our garden [...]
“A” Is For “ASBO” and “Atheist”
This is interesting no only for its comedic value – you just had to laugh. But also for the side thoughts that emerge while reading the story. A man in Liverpool has been found guilty of “causing religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress”, sentenced to 100 hours of community service, and given an ASBO [...]
Let’s Fix Pascha! (literally)
The Irish politician Feargal Quinn has written in the Irish Times (27 March) that the EU must set a fixed date for Pascha. His argument runs that the movable date is inconvenient to parents and schools organising vacations, and time off. That it negatively affects the tourist industry, and causes inefficiency in other businesses attempting [...]
Codex Coolness!
I’ve been waiting for this for some time now – I heard about it when it first started – and have remembered and forgotten about it off and on for two years since. But here it is – finally – the web site of the Codex Sinaiticus. What!? Youd don’t know what it is? Ach [...]
The Writing on the Wall
This is the door full of love, and within it is love. Enter, sinner, pray [much] for love from your Lord, full of love. For centuries pilgrims (Pagan and Christian) have left their mark on shrines and holy places – grafitti is just one method. Today we think of it as a marring, a desecration [...]
Theology, Ethics, Suicide – What Is Our OC/IC Perspective?
Here in the UK I’ve been noticing more news items covering issues relating to assisted suicide and euthenasia. I sat down this morning and did a quick survey of the official positions of a number of denomonations to see if they differed, and what was characteristic about each posistion. It then struck me that I’ve [...]
Musing over Modern Marian Titles
I was working on my thesis this morning and while considering aspects’ of Nestorius’ warning about the possible excesses of the title Theotokos – found myself thinking about the Roman Catholic idea of Mary as Mediatrix. I wondered to myself if it was not a bit prophetic on Nestorius’ part to raise issue with the [...]
Happy New Year!
. . . Well almost. I’m a few day’s late I know, but the sentiment is there all the same. The liturgical new year began on Monday and, at the time, I did not have immediate access to the net. New year, new ideas, new experiences . . . renewal generally. Hey, I like it. [...]
Coincidence is Fun!
Wow! Ok, so I’m busy typing away at the last two chapters of the Thesis From Hell (a.k.a – Das Elefant). At the moment I’m working on the chapter dealing with Nestorius’ views of the Theotokos and the emerging cult & devotion to her; and it hits me . . . . this week is [...]
Talk Amongst Yourselves: I’ve been comitted.
I was reading an article the other day about the famous (imfamous) media campaigner Mary Whitehouse; where she was described as “a comitted Christian”. What struck me was that in the context of the article this was not a good thing – indeed it was a signpost that Mary Whitehouse was barking mad and bloody [...]