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?