Cross Crabs

You know what a crab looks like when you disturb it on a beach, it raises up and starts snapping at you and looks all cross - woe betide you if you get too close. Well writing a public article on religion is like disturbing loads of cross crabs. All of them would happily inflict a sharp stab of pain if only they could get a good grip. Honestly! You can understand it if I was writing about hell fire and brimstone, or telling people they were wicked and doomed to hell or how they were utterly wrong and only the god-fearing saw the true way - but I'm not.

But it says something about how people perceive religion as a perpetrator of something bad, not good, and who's fault is that? Probably a legacy of how badly religion has been taught for so many decades, but it is now much better. Partly because people feel threatened by faith, (but not sure why), and partly because most religions (Catholic included) are bad at portraying a face to the public that allows them to understand the very heart of what this about - which is love. All people see is the regalia, the pomp and ceremony and the conflict - which is such a pity.

If only they saw the people like Pat Clarke, or Fr Leo Dolan, who I am meeting tonight and who works with the poor and landless in a violent and lawless part of N Brazil, or Sr Dorothy Stang, who was murdered fighting for the rainforest and the poor, or the countless other men and women who are driven by love to do great things for others.

Dorothy Stang

Yes there are religious wars - but decrying all religion because of extremists who have no understanding of the heart of faith is like saying everyone who enjoys a sherry at Christmas is an abusive alcoholic.

Yes some faiths have teachings that are out of step with modern ways of thinking, and the Catholic objection to birth control is right up there with that one. But the way to tackle these is to discuss openly and with respect - not throw insults. I have a lot to say on this, but not here, but I understand that population is a massive issue and we have to all take this very seriously. By far the best way to do it is to reduce poverty, educate women and ensure a society cares for its citizens. In every instance when these things happen birth rate declines, irrespective of the religion of that country.

Come on cross crabs, put your claws down, read what I'm really saying and then tell me that urging billions of people to care for the earth, and each other is bad, but don't just see "religion" in the title and fire off without trying to understand.

The Guardian

I've got an article in The Guardian today about religion and the environmental movement. It's already got some choice comments!

Vegans, Veggies, Crickets, the Planet

Have a listen to this:

Cricket Chanting!

Crickets are supposed to live about 1/6th the length of time of humans so someone decided to slow down their sound by 1/6th, put real-time crickets over the top and have created an eerie, spooky, ethereal cricket choir. It was used as a back-drop to Buddhist chanting at a weekend course I did recently with my son. Not at all sure what I made of the combination of ommms and crickets, but the weekend itself was wonderful.

It ticked SO many right-on boxes. We drove in our mini camper van (1 tick) to Glastonbury (at least 2 ticks) to do a weekend of Buddhist meditation (again at least 2 ticks) and vegan cooking (4 ticks). The weather was glorious, the views stunning, the people lovely and the food so delicious.

Buddhist meditation is very calming and focused and I love the addition of bells and drums and rattly things or whatever else anyone can pick up. I'm surprised at the adoration of a statue of a goddess though - I thought Buddhism was all about no gods? Being a Christian I used the time to pray and soaked in the lovely atmosphere of reverence and goodness.

We had a really fun time learning how to cook with Jane Easton who is a great lady, passionate about food, veganism and Buddhism. Her personality spreads energy and can-do.

Here is the website of Compassion in the Kitchen. Join up and get cooking.

Nature, Radio 4 - today 9.00 pm

Have a listen to my Nature programme on Radio 4 tonight at 9.00 pm
Mud, Birds and Tides. Any feedback very welcome.
It's presented by Chris Sperring.

You can also read an article I wrote for Justice Magazine -
Birds, Tides and Us on how we could avoid having to build it.

Pioneering Woman and Talented Girls

Last week I had the honour of giving the keynote speech at the Loreto Grammar School for Girls centenary event. Here is a copy of the speech.

Mary Ward was the founder and inspiration of the Loreto schools which are now all round the world. She lived in the 17th Century but was light years ahead of her time. She was passionate about the education and development of women - horror. She was imprisoned by the Inquisition for her heretical views and Pope Urban V111 forced her to abandon her plans and order. She died when all she had worked for had been disbanded - but still hoped her vision would come to be. Her followers carried on her dream of "no half measures, no half women" - and that was evident from the night in Manchester.

We had a wonderful concert, singing, dancing and soloist performances. The girls were truly inspirational. Well done Loreto, what you are doing is very important.

September Sunshine and Kites

This weekend was the Bristol Kite Festival - wonderful weather. Enjoy the colour.

City of Angels

Pat Clarke is inspirational, he has worked with the street children of Sao Paulo for over 33 years, built an arts centre, a pastoral centre and a countryside retreat. He works with them, not imposing, not coming in with solutions, but walks alongside the families who live in conditions we find it hard to imagine. A woman who visited the arts centre, where the children learn to draw, paint, make ceramics etc, described the visit as bieng in a state of grace.

What will happen when these extraordinary men of God die out? No one is coming up behind to take their place. Pat is a Holy Ghost Father, the rag pickers of the Church he told me - we go where no one else wants to go - and said with not a trace of arrogance. He is true to his calling - not many of us would chose to spend our lives surrounded by open sewers, rats and gangs with guns.



The children are allowed to see the inspirational side of life, paint, draw, listen to music - and he also takes them out to a countryside retreat place he managed to buy called The City of Angels.
Here children can be children, experience peace, space, nature and learn about the natural
world. What Pat is doing is wonderful. If you can help keep this going by sending a donation please do.
clarkepat2000@hotmail.com

Two articles this week...

I had 2 articles published this week:

Woodpigeon flying over an organic wheat field in Somerset

The Tablet article - Faith in Farming is on the future of farming, based around a remarkable man Victor Barry (see earlier post).

Severn Estuary

The other is in a brand new magazine called Justice on the Severn Estuary.

Songs of Praise....

Vatican Radio Interview

Here is an interview I did for Vatican Radio this week talking about the link between our approach to the natural world and faith. It is good to talk about this at the moment as we (I mean the team at ARC, the Alliance of Religions and Conservation) are really getting into gear preparing for the major event being held at Windsor Castle in November. Ban Ki Moon and Prince Philip will be there to celebrate and honour the work being done by the world's religions, and many are making brand new commitments to promote long term changes towards the natural world. The programme is looking fantastic - very exciting. More on this to follow.