iPod religion

I listen to sermons and other stuff on my iPod as I drive to work every day (I also listen at other times). So I was intrigued to come across this news story today:

Religious teaching straight to your iPod

I found this paragraph particularly interesting.

"A survey last year by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that more people used the Internet to look for religious and spiritual information than to download music, participate in online auctions or visit adult websites."

I'm always a bit suspicious of surveys of this kind - and the name of the organisation doing it might infer some bias - but nevertheless, it's interesting even if it isn't entirely accurate.

However, I have some nagging doubts about the danger of privatising religion - and hear I'm really talking about Christianity - with people choosing to listen to podcasts rather than be part of a Christian community/church.

But then, there are downsides to lots of things, and for my money the increased availability of podcasts is a good thing. It allows you a degree of selectivity - to find styles of teaching that meet your needs and preferences - and allows you to follow trends and thinking in the wider church - anything that can be used to promote thinking and education gets my seal of approval.

Even on our best days

Even on our best days we need to remember how loved we are.
Because even on our best days we forget this.
And even on our best days we don't deserve it.
But even on our best days we desperately need it.


"Men more frequently require to be reminded than informed."
Samuel Johnson

Nec tamen consumebatur

Final entry (for now) about Dunkeld cathedral. Inside the church (the bit with a roof), there's a really nice, worship-ful atmosphere. In each pew there's a wee card with some thoughts to help you spend 5 minutes praying - I liked this.

However, I was really taken by the carpet in front of the communion table. Aye, I know how weird that sounds but look carefully at the photo and see all of the elements that make it up.

I think that the burning bush is a very appropriate feature in a church that survived the excesses of the Protestant mob. It's also the symbol of the Church of Scotland, which has the motto nec tamen consumebatur (hence the title of this entry). For those of you who didn't 'enjoy' a classical education (although I don't remember a lot of joy declining Latin verbs), it means 'However it was not consumed'. Pretty apt, don't you think?

Religious extremism ... in Dunkeld!!

More ponderings/ramblings on our visit to Dunkeld yesterday.

The wee cathdedral is "a game of two halves". The original cathedral was destroyed during a fit of un-controlled iconoclasm during the Scottish Reformation in 1560. The leaders of the Reformation ordered that the statues and icons and such-like should be removed, but that the building should not be damaged. The zeal (or greed?) of the mob got the better of them and the cathedral was destroyed.

I'm pleased to say that there is still an active, lovely wee kirk at one end of the building (unlike St Andrews where something similar happened).

Powerful thing, religious emotion - easy to incite, difficult to control. Sounds familiar?

It strikes me that it's all too easy to judge the motives and behaviours of others - but if we look at our own history, there are parallels that are due to human behaviour - not creeds or beliefs.

Will we, won't we?

We spent a day out and about - as a family, all three of us - with no shopping! And we all enjoyed it.

We dithered and swithered about going out today. The forecast wasn't great; we didn't feel well prepared for walking about the Scottish countryside in unpredictable weather; and getting out of the house seemed to take forever... but we went anyway.

The day was to serve two purposes. Firstly, it was to be a photo day. This was Dolly D's idea, but I didn't need any persuasion, and may become a regular feature of our family time. Secondly, she needed to get some walking done to try out new boots before she goes on a Duke of Edinburgh expedition towards the end of May. Both objectives were fulfilled.

We spent the morning in Dunkeld , had lunch, then went for a walk past the Hermitage to Rumbling Bridge. It was thoroughly enjoyable for all of us, so hopefully we'll keep going and spend a bit more quality time together.

The photo is of Dunkeld with the Cathedral near the centre of the frame. (More photos later in the week.)

Friday photo: the time according to nature is ...

up close and personal

A thought occurred to me today, as I was lying on my back taking a photo of a flower. I'm fascinated by the intricate detail of things - not just flowers (though that might not be obvious to readers of this blog). Yet in my work life - and possibly in other areas - my natural approach is more of a helicopter view, i.e. looking at the big picture, seeking the strategic approach without getting bogged down in detail.

My conclusions? I don't have any - it just strikes me as a paradox.

Of course, maybe if I lay on the floor at work meetings I would see things from a different perspective!!