Arts
The Organ (ii)
Wind The accompanying image is taken from Dom Bedos’ ‘ l’art du Facteur d’ Orgues’ (1776), and shows, among other things, a single organ-blower, operating one of three ‘feeders’ – or possibly, pumping two of the [more…]
Philosophy
Arts
The Coventry Carol
Several oil-on-oak-panel versions of The Massacre of the Innocents were painted by 16th-century Netherlandish painters Pieter Bruegel the Elder and his son Pieter Brueghel the Younger. The work translates the Biblical account of the Massacre [more…]
Christianity
The Relevance of Christianity – Part Two
Last time I wrote about the state of religion in the UK, and the lessons Christianity can teach us regarding modern life. Today, I cover some further lessons, and some hope for the future. Free [more…]
Arts
The Holly and the Ivy – King’s College Cambridge 2008
The words of the carol occur in three broadsides published in Birmingham in the early nineteenth century. An early mention of the carol’s title occurs in William Hone’s 1823 work Ancient Mysteries Described, which includes [more…]
Islam
Polis Sco’lan – Equalities visit to Strathbolloch Primary School
Mrs McRoper, class teacher, addresses the wide-eyed youngsters in the assembly hall. “…and as you all know, diversity is at the heart of all we do here at Strathbolloch Primary. Through our visits to Glasgow [more…]
Christianity
The Relevance of Christianity – Part One
The State of Affairs According to the 2011 census, Christians make up 59.5% of the UK population. Those with no religion make up 25.7%. Then you have Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism. Anglicans make [more…]
Philosophy
Gmbd, Perfect
My second wife said to her friend at the reception something like “he is a perfectionist and I am not” “OOh that will not last” Well it didn’t but what does these days ? What [more…]
Ethics
Absolutism and Abortion
The ongoing vilification of Jacob Rees-Mogg regarding his specific view on abortion is beyond the pale for any society that regards itself as civilised and rational. There is a reason that numerous philosophical dilemmas and [more…]
History
The Future – A Millennial’s Prayer
“Here comes the 21st Century, it’s gonna be so much better for a Taff like me…” 1967: in the future, I bet we will have a cure for cancer, flying cars, and other cool stuff [more…]