I have spent the weekend at a symposium dealing with the role of religious experience in interreligious dialogue, organised by the Scottish Catholic It’s not a topic that’s often discussed in interfaith circles but it’s an important and interesting one. The first question of course is what is a religious experience and who facilitated the event settled on a sociological understanding of what he called ‘ordinary’ religious experiences to distinguish them from the overpowering peak experiences that some people undoubtedly have and that often lead to a conversion, whether that be of faith or way ..read more

It is a new year. This century is nearly a quarter way through. A moment to pause and reflect. For some a moment to celebrate and party as it offers a new beginning and with that possibilities for the future. It is a time for wishing one another peace, happiness and good health for we face an uncertain future as individuals as well as common citizens of this planet that we all inhabit. We wish for peace and justice, health and happiness but we cannot be sure of any of it. This is a moment to hope that things will get better both for us and our families as well as the world. We cannot predict t ..read more

You cannot make the revolution. You can only be the revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere.  This is a quotation from Ursula Le Guin and it got me thinking about the kind of revolution I would like to be, or at least engage in. It will be no surprise to discover that I would want to be part of a movement that recognises our common humanity and our common kindred with the whole of nature. I would want to be part of a movement that softened human hearts to feel compassion for those who are different and even those we regard as enemies. I would want to be part of a movement that ..read more

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so dispirited about the world in which we live as I do now, and I can’t remember being so fearful for its future. I’ve never lived through a war and was probably too caught up in my own life and work and too busy to engage with some critical moments in the past like the Cuban crisis. I was a student in college when that happened and remember going to bed with the nuns telling us to pray hard as nuclear war was a real possibility. I remember feeling anxious but not sad to the pit of my stomach as I do today about the situation in the Middle East. I am older now, mor ..read more

Britain is still reflecting on the recent coronation of King Charles – some people thinking it was a waste of money, others enjoying the pomp and circumstance of it all and others decrying the fact that still the King must declare his allegiance to the Protestant faith and to uphold the beliefs and traditions of Protestantism. It wrangles a bit that it is impossible for a Catholic to be crowned king or queen, perhaps the last vestige of sectarianism within governmental structures. Some changes in the coronation service were applauded – the involvement of other Christian denominations and faith ..read more

I was invited recently to contribute to a dialogue about hospitality. I was to be the Christian speaker. I wasn’t too sure where to begin because hospitality is something that is human and not specifically religious. It’s a very human thing to welcome friends and family into our homes to share food and drink. It’s these get togethers that deepen friendships and relationships, that give us a sense of family and community identity. I always feel it’s a real privilege to be invited into someone’s home as well as into the world of other faiths when celebrating events and festivals. The word hospit ..read more

The 9th Parliament of World Religions was held in Chicago from 14th - 18th August this year.  The website claims that 7,000 people attended with participants coming from 95 countries, representing 210+ traditions which is quite something. The theme for the event was The Call to Conscience, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Parliament’s foundational document which was originally drawn up by called Towards a Global Ethic and accepted at the Parliament of 1993. The Parliament of 1993 had been called to commemorate the original Parliament of World Religions which had taken place in as p ..read more

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