One of the things that came out of my recent visit to Krakow, as a delegate to the 25th World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religion (doesn’t that sound grand, and rather nineteenth century?), was a clarity on what my next book (perhaps two books) might be. I spent much ofContinue reading “Coming to Terms with the Cognitive Study of Religion”
Category Archives: Creativity
On Being a Beekeeper
Today is apparently World Honey Bee Day. This is also the time of year when the beekeeper is busy, manging the hives and making sure that the bees have the necessary frames to build their stocks of honey. As I was cleaning out the garage, therefore, over the weekend, I noted the absence of allContinue reading “On Being a Beekeeper”
Images of Violence
I recently attended an excellent conference at the Northumbria University organised by the sociology of religion group, Socrel, and focused on Religion, Justice and Social Power. Alongside some wonderful papers and a chance to hear about faith-based action for social justice in the Northeast, it was also great to catch up with colleagues and toContinue reading “Images of Violence”
The Trigan Empire
The surprise gift this Christmas was a copy of Tales from the Trigan Empire, a large comic, or graphic novel, volume published in 1989. This is clearly not the kind of thing that I would normally read, but it brought back so many memories of childhood. When I was eleven or twelve (1973-74) my parentsContinue reading “The Trigan Empire”
Is the Doctor a Vampire
The other night I woke up in the middle of a dream about Dr Who. I have no idea what the narrative of the dream was, but the question that stuck in my mind, as I woke up, was whether the Doctor should be seen as a vampire. This may not be quite as oddContinue reading “Is the Doctor a Vampire”
Paintings of the Post Industrial
A couple of weeks ago I was in Coventry and, having a little time to spare, walked round the Cathedral. It is an incredible building and one of the few twentieth century church buildings that works as a complete whole. It is full of art works, most from the same period as the building ofContinue reading “Paintings of the Post Industrial”
Snow White in the Age of Social Media
Snow White acts as something of leitmotif throughout my current book on the nature and use of stories in religion. In each chapter I provide a different analysis of the tale and a different perspective or way of telling the story. In the chapter on ‘Function’ (which begins with the theories of Malinowski) I suggestContinue reading “Snow White in the Age of Social Media”
A Night at the Ballet
There is not nearly enough modern dance and ballet outside of London. Here in the Midlands, we have the Birmingham Royal Ballet and then various touring companies that may come to Malvern, Wolverhampton, the Hippodrome in Birmingham or elsewhere. Unless you are on the various mailing lists or know where to look it is veryContinue reading “A Night at the Ballet”
Shostakovich, Leningrad and Ukraine
I first heard Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony at about the age of twelve, played by the Halle orchestra on one of their seasons of concerts in Sheffield City Hall. I was absolutely bowled over, particularly by the first movement and when visiting Bedales, the public school attended by Princess Margaret’s children, as part of a schoolContinue reading “Shostakovich, Leningrad and Ukraine”
Robin and Marion: Reworking Medieval Structures.
While travelling back and forth between Kidderminster and Swansea I listened to a great deal of music and a sizeable proportion of that was medieval music. One CD struck a chord with me and got me thinking. It was a performance of Le Jeu de Robin et de Marion by Adam de la Halle. ThisContinue reading “Robin and Marion: Reworking Medieval Structures.”
Martin Stringer Quartet 