Three weeks later...

and the assignment made it to the OU four days early. The combination of moving home and finding myself with limited broadband access almost derailed the submission but it did eventually get there. 

With life settling down a little I have begun the fourth and final course book. Chapter 1 - spirituality. New age, consumer religion, the future of faith. Having worked with this material previously it is interesting to read of recent developments.

Much has changed in western societies in the past eighteen years. The rising profile of religion since 2001 and the financial crisis of 2008 both impacted on values, feelings and perceptions of the world.  Re-reading texts from before that time is an interesting experience as the suppositions and conclusions seem less clear cut than once they did. 

Next up is 'consuming religion'. This includes a section on Glastonbury. Having just left the south west this connection is not without poignancy.

Reasons to be cheerful

Assignment number three. After multiple distractions at last a degree of success. I'm not quite there yet with the whole thing but still three weeks to the deadline. Time now to press pause as life's changes take their course.

All shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well. (Julian of Norwich)

To be honest, I'm glad to be done with New Atheism for now. In the light of yesterday's events at UWE I wonder why aggressive intolerance of the opinions of others remains a fact in our 'modern' society.

I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it. (Voltaire, or possibly Evelyn Beatrice Hall)

Is it really so difficult to cope with the fact that others don't see the world exactly as I do?

Getting back to work

Assignment time again! With Christmas over and the New Year already two weeks old the time has come to pick up those threads again. Study has been intermittent for the past month but I am still on track.

Assignment number three asks for a critical assessment of the impact of the 'culture wars' on Christianity in Europe and the USA. In 2000 words or less.

Where to start? Secularisation? Atheism? Pluralism? Or maybe religion in public life, education or welfare?

Philosophically speaking

Religion and philosophy are closely linked. When studying to become a Baptist minister the philosophy of religion module was compulsory. This wasn't popular with all students who found the often lengthy musings of various writers somewhat tedious and irrelevant.

Picking up the threads of this area of study again has been an interesting experience. The OU course guide suggested getting to grips with the thinking of three figures from different historical periods. I made my selection from the long list of names by returning to books gathering dust on my shelves from my time as a ministerial student.

This unscientific approach found me reading about David Hume, Sigmund Freud and Bertrand Russell. Despite the random nature of the process these three were from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries respectively.

All this is as a prelude to the main focus of this block on the twenty-first century movement that is identified as the 'New Atheism'. Best known of the authors here is Richard Dawkins. I read his book The God Delusion over the summer so have an idea of what to expect.

Assignment number two

Against the odds (given the pressures of December) the second assignment has been completed. The online submission system seemed a little surprised. Was I sure I meant to submit a month early? Yes! Yes! Yes! Break out the champagne.

On now with the next block whenever time allows. The next couple of weeks are full of meals, mince pies and music but there may be space in between for reading.

The theme of book three? Controversial Ideas - atheism, religion and science, philosophy, and something called 'the new animism'. Intriguing.

Christmas is coming...

...and my wonderful month of sabbatical leave ends tomorrow. I am beginning to pick up the threads of work again while drawing together those of study to complete the assignment. With the written part finished there is just a recorded presentation to create and a bibliography to complete.

Beginning on the bibliography yesterday I was struck by the fact that, so far, none of the sources I cite are actually books. Is there such as thing as a bibliography with no books? How the world has changed in the decade or more since I last engaged with academia.

Thanks to all who have supported during this time of intensive study. With Christmas on the way life will now take a different shape. Fortunately the OU calendar allocates a two week break over the Christmas period. Mine will be starting a little earlier than most.

A milestone and a small victory

The milestone

My first assignment arrived back, marked, thanks to the wonders of the electronic system. I can actually read the tutor's assessment - not always the case in the past. All I need to do now is get the hang of the Harvard Referencing System. I lost a few marks due to failure to correctly reference online sources. Books are so much easier.

The small victory

I have a first draft of the next assignment finished. More to do but always a huge relief to have the right number of words down on paper. Yes, I do still print everything. Never can quite believe it won't vanish into the ether.

So today, all is well. It will be worth sticking with the course.