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.