I’m not someone who feels that time slips away from them- generally speaking, I find I have enough time to get things done.
However, I’m very prone to getting sidetracked early in the morning (like now, when writing this post). It’s like all my creative energy bubbles up and tries to draw me away from cycling into the office…Hopefully one day I’ll be able to stay at home and make use of this creativity as it appears
I’m finally following my wise Dad’s advice and am making a backup. Off to Dublin in a day or two and taking the laptop, so I figured it would be good to back things up.Let’s hope I don’t need it…
Posted in ideas, information, work
This two-part post is what I had been planning to share with Quaker Quest tonight (I was prevented by a complicated and tiring train journey).Hopefully it’ll be of some use here…
How and when do I encounter God?
I have no doubt that I can experience God on a daily basis. I have many recollections of experiencing God in a direct way. That’s not to say I’m always open to God!
Many Quakers would say that God is universally accessible, and not confined to ‘holy’ places. I certainly agree with this- but not to the extent of pantheism or universalism, which I think go too far in reducing God to ‘part of life’. I feel that God is a real, distinct and living presence.
I often encounter God in a very direct way through other people- when they say challenging or inspirational things, for example. I sometimes see God shining through someone’s courage or generosity.
I encounter God when I worship God in a Quaker meeting- both in the quiet and through the ministry of others. Often, encountering God in the quiet happens only fleetingly, but even a few seconds of that ‘deep encounter’ can centre and transform me for the week. A bit hard to describe exactly what this encounter is like, but very clear when I’m having it. Much much more than feeling simply ‘tranquil’.
Some of my most profound encounters with God have come at moments of crisis or dilemma- where my human, finite faculties have been stretched or exhausted. At these times, God is a new source of energy and guidance.
(I’m currently encountering God in an unexpectedly complicated train journey to London, which may prevent me from sharing these thoughts at Quaker Quest).
It can be much harder to find God in suffering or injustice. Where is the loving and transforming power in these situations?I could fill an entire talk or blog post with this challenge to faith. For the moment, I’ll say that God can be and is alongside us when we suffer. It may be that He can’t wave a magic wand and alter our human-perceived physical world, but He can be a great source of spiritual strength and transformation.
In times of fear (such as living with the fear of an armed robbery while working at a 24 hour shop in Belfast), I have encountered God through a sense of being ‘held’ and looked after- not because of a physical sense of protection, but a sense of God being with me.
The corollary to this is occasions when I have felt fortunate and blessed by God. On my wedding day, the clear sense of a blessed direction and the blessing of those around me, for me were part of an encounter with God.
What does this mean for the way I live my life?
Because I encounter God in Quaker worship, I value that time and get to meeting when I can. I should say, however, that I’m not a faultless attender! This is something I need to work on.
Knowing that I can encounter God in Quaker worship encourages me to approach it with an open heart and mind. Looking for God in others’ ministry helps me avoid the problem of responding badly to ministry which doesn’t speak to my condition.
Times when I have encountered God in my daily life and through other people give me the hope that I’ll do so again. I try as much as I can to be open to God’s loving, teaching and transforming power in my life. As with worship, I’m sure that if I was more practised at this I’d find I encountered God more often!
I think the fact that I encounter God at both the ‘high’ and the ‘low’ points in life helps preserve me from the dangers of unmitigated triumph or despair. The thankfulness and faith I feel remind me that I’m not alone.
A key phrase for me is ‘deus volens’ (God willing). I don’t use this as a cop out, trying to evade responsibility for my life. It’s more about having a sense that I should be ready to be surprised by the gifts and challenges that God puts in my way.
I have the clear sense that more encounters with God would improve my life! I also have the sense that these encounters don’t need to happen in a special ‘holy’ place. (Though prayer and quiet waiting are very valuable).
I know that encounters with God can be challenging and life-changing. I pray for the courage to truly open myself to these encounters too.
Knowing that I have had personal encounters with a real and loving God helps me to relate to Him in a personal and loving way- not as an abstract ‘giver of laws’, or ‘life force’, but as a real and present spiritual guide and support.
Posted in ideas, philosophy
Does Mill’s liberty principle provide a satisfactory criterion by which to judge whether interference in another person’s actions is justifiable?
Introduction
Be clear- I agree!
Mill’s principle is not absolute
The appeal to liberty as default condition is strongly intuitive
The ‘harm’ qualification is useful and clear
But!
Problems posed by utilitarianism (not compatible with ‘rights’)
How to (and who) discerns ‘good’
Examples of where utilitarianism is useful (and where it isn’t)
Conclusion
Posted in ideas, philosophy
Why according to Rousseau are dissentient individuals obliged to obey the general will under the conditions of the Social Contract?
Introduction
What is the general will?
Background- what is Rousseau trying to do?
How is it discerned (problems with this process?)
What is the social contract?
Contrast with other kinds of ‘contract’
NB not the same as ‘accepting’ benign authority
Why R. states that all must obey general will
Examples (murder)
Consequences of not obeying
Problems this leads to
Conclusion
Posted in ideas, philosophy
A couple of years ago, I ‘downgraded’ to the most basic mobile phone I could get my hands on. I specifically wanted something that wouldn’t need to be ‘upgraded’ in a few months’ time. It was cheap, too.
Why do I resist the relentless upgrades? Partly a desire for simplicity, but also a worry about the consequences of the relentless demand for new mobile phones. Each mobile contains Coltan, a metallic ore used to produce the elements niobium and tantalum. The Democratic Republic of Congo contains 80% of the world’s Coltan reserves. A ticket to prosperity, you might think. Sadly, it seems that Coltan is fuelling conflict in the DRC.
John Le Carré’s recent book, The Mission Song looks at the issue of Coltan in the DRC. I’m a fan of Le Carré- I might give it a read!
[This post also came out from a chat with Sergio- sorry, Sergio, for not getting the name of the mineral right!]
Posted in ideas
These days, we tend to feel guilty or bad about more and more things, because they have a destructive impact on the world we share with others. Sometimes this can lead to an all-consuming anxiety, feeling like just existing as a normal person in an industrial society is a sin in itself.
How to transform this general anxiety into something more useful?
A good friend of mine, Sergio, gave me something of an answer to this last night. He said:
“When you’re thinking of doing something, and wondering whether that thing is sustainable, imagine what would happen if everyone did the same as you.”
I find this such a useful thought, because it highlights how small choices have big impacts when you look at the bigger picture.
Just spent the weekend climbing in the Lakes. We did two long routes on the Napes. A great day, no ‘faff’ and lots of sunshine.
I’m very new to climbing, so rely on kind folks like Rick to lead and make sure I don’t do anything silly (like falling off). Before I started climbing, I had thought that it would be really strenuous. In fact, it’s probably much more mental than physical- particularly on long routes, where a lot of thinking and checking is needed what with setting up belays and so on.
It’s also interesting to think about the level of risk involved. Of course an unprotected fall would be very, very serious. However, any climber worth their salt will make sure that if a fall is likely, the protection in place is rock solid. Climbing culture is full of ritual and talk about staying safe: “climb when ready!”, ‘bomber protection’ etc. So in a way, although by climbing you’re entering a risky environment, at any given point you have a lot of choice about how exposed you are to risk.
Climbers are also a great bumch to hang out with. All that time scrabbling round on crags seems to give them a very sharp sense of humour. Climbing routes have very evocative names, like one called ‘Balls like spacehoppers’.
Big thanks to Rick, Gemma and Paul for taking on a climbing newbie and giving me such a great day!
Many conservative thinkers talk about ‘wealth creation’ as a way of reducing poverty. I’m not so sure- to my mind, wealth is a result of distribution of resources, rather than something which is ‘created’ from nothing. I also think that poverty is a prerequisite of wealth, and vice versa.
Having said that, I recently studied (as part of my philosophy course) a good critique of economic redistribution from Robert Nozick. He makes the point that a just redistribution of wealth is not the same as an equal distribution of wealth, in his Wilt Chamberlain example.
I think that Nozick’s argument that redistributing wealth impinges on people’s rights to their ‘just entitlement’ is very compelling. It appeals to the feeling that people shouldn’t be taxed just for being wealthy. But it does rest on the assumption that the distribution of wealth was fair in the first place (!)
I’m a bit undecided on the whole tax question. I can see real value in doing things collectively (hospitals, schools, public transport…) but I also think that the state should interfere as little as possible. Perhaps that means I’m a typical voter, wanting less taxes but more services!
Posted in ideas, philosophy
“Few people think more than two or three times a year; I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week.”
George Bernard Shaw(thanks Dad!)
Posted in ideas, philosophy
things that might have been otherwise 