Summertime Reading

By Choice • For Pleasure

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By Request • For Review

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A Reading Binge

I’ve been on something of a reading binge for the last few weeks in the run up to two essays I have due in May. For the first time in my life I’ve actually got into a reading routine (which has a lot to do with the fact I am otherwise unoccupied throughout the day, as I continue to look for a job that fits round my studies in this stupid recession). Nevertheless, here is the fruit of my labours, both completed and ongoing, and some I will be starting imminently:

Books Completed:

Ivan Illich - Tools For Conviviality. A staple of Illich’s corpus which extends the thesis he set out in Deschooling Society, that the institutionalization of the West – in terms of education, healthcare, transport, technology etc. – has done far more damage than good, acting as dehumanizing forces which make us slaves to the very things that were supposed to help us. Illich was something of a phenomenon in the 70s, but his work was rather neglected from the mid-80s on. However, the theological foundations of his work – the argument that modern society is essentially a corruption of Christianity – has recently been retrieved by Charles Taylor.

John Ruskin – Unto This Last. A scathing critique of the political economy of 19th Century Victorian society from what might be called a ‘theo-aesthetic’ and romantic perspective. Ruskin has been of interest lately to the likes of John Milbank and Jamie Smith, and has been cited as inspiration for the (related) political sensibility known as ‘Red Toryism’, with which Philip Blond is identified. I found Ruskin had much to say to our current economic situation, even though he was addressing a social context quite different (in some ways, not others) from our own.

An Existential Reflection on Evensong

I did something a little unusual last Sunday, for me at least, by going to the Choral Evensong service at St. Mary’s Church in Nottingham. It was by far the most traditional Christian service I’ve been to in some time, but I seem to have been tending that way recently. I arrived about two minutes before start time and was met by a greeter: a tall man, probably in his 60s, with thick grey hair and a friendly face. He looked a little puzzled to see me, and asked quizzically whether I was there for the service. I replied that I was. He looked even more puzzled and passed me a parish newsletter, asking whether I’d been before. I replied that I hadn’t and he directed me to the ‘choir’ (yes, where the choir usually sits, at the front of the church, near the altar) where the service was held, explaining where I should seat myself.

I wandered up the central aisle towards the ‘choir’, and was struck by how huge the church building was. I had been here two weeks before, out of curiosity, to watch the new minister-in-charge of the Nottingham diocese get set in by the local Bishop, in front of a packed house and some media. The scene was somewhat different this time, most of the church was dim lit, and completely empty. It was cavernous. There were around 15 people (at a generous estimate) sat up in the choir (seats) amidst the candle light, waiting for the minister and choir (singers) to arrive. 

Music, Books, Beverages (2nd self-indulgent list)

What I have been listening to…

U2 // No Line on the Horizon

Lindsey Buckingham // Gift of Screws

Lindsey Buckingham // Under The Skin

Fleetwood Mac // Rumours

What I have been reading…

Charles Taylor // A Secular Age

Augustine // Confessions

Stanley Hauerwas // A Better Hope (essay collection)

G.K. Chesterton // Orthodoxy

What I have been drinking…

Highland Park 12 year old (Single Malt Island)

Glenmorangie Original 10 year old (Single Malt Highland)

Hopping Hare (Golden English Ale)

Baileys & Hot Chocolate (Cadbury’s, of course)

Dust & Light blog

Nearly a year ago me and two friends of mine came up with the idea of starting a collaborative blog. After much procrastination, we have finally got around to starting the thing. ‘Dust and Light’ will provide a platform for theological interaction with philosophy, culture, politics, art, etc., and is intended to provoke conversation and discussion.

You can visit the blog here: http://dustandlight.wordpress.com

I made my first post on the blog today, entitled “On What It Means To Be Free”. In it I make the point – obvious to some, less so to others – that the dominant ‘liberal’ notion of freedom we have today is basically contrary to any Christian notion of freedom.

Music, Books and Beverages

What I have been listening to…

Leonard Cohen // The Best Of

The Killers // Day and Age

Joseph Arthur and The Lonely Astronauts // Temporary People

Pixies // Wave of Mutilation: Best Of

What I have been reading…

Alain Badiou // Saint Paul: The Foundation of Universalism

Michael J. Gorman // Cruciformity: Paul’s Narrative Spirituality of the Cross

Soren Kierkegaard // The Sickness Unto Death

…and some of E.E. Cummings poems.

What I have been sipping…

The Macallan 12 year old (Single Malt Highland)

Laphroaig 10 year old (Single Malt Islay)

Apostoles aged 30 years (Palo Cortado Sherry)

Fursty Ferret (English Ale)

Seven Sisters Road

For those interested, I’ve started a collaborative football blog called ‘Seven Sisters Road’ with a friend, James Pearson, in which we will discuss all football related issues. James is an Arsenal fan, and I’m a Tottenham fan, so we should get some interesting dialogue. We’re still getting it set up, but there are some initial posts on there already.

You can find the blog here: http://sevensistersroad.wordpress.com

And here is the blurb:

^{“Seven Sisters Road is a collaborative blog between James Pearson, an Arsenal fan, and Simon Ravenscroft, a Tottenham Hotspur fan. Traditional enemies in footballing matters, Misters Pearson and Ravenscroft are putting aside their differences to engage in a public, international and ground-breakingly pointless online conversation about the ins and outs of top-flight English football. “It is doomed”, I hear you say. Well, perhaps… doomed to be a fantastic success!!!}

^{(Seven Sisters Road is in North London. It is famous as the road which runs between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur football clubs, separating the two fierce rivals by a mere four miles [according to Google Maps]).”}

Meine Vorlesungsliste

I had my first proper class at the University of Nottingham on Monday, the first in my ‘Continental Philosophy of Religion’ module, and we were given a rather extensive reading list (see below) which we will work through from now until December. I am going to try (!) and keep this blog updated somewhat regularly with my ongoing thoughts as I work through the list, although I am a little sceptical as to whether I will actually do that.

Now, Winston Churchill once observed that it was “good for an uneducated man to read books of quotations”. A few years ago, I took him at his word and bought two. As such, by the side of each work listed, you will also find a witty remark about reading, books or education to make you laugh!

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Week 1

Søren Kierkegaard

Excerpts from:

Philosophical Fragments (Johannes Climacus)

Concluding Unscientific Postscript to Philosophical Fragments (Johannes Climacus)

“The covers of this book are far too far apart” (Ambrose Bierce).

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Week 2

Søren Kierkegaard (again)

Excerpts from:

Fear and Trembling (Johannes de Silentio)

Repetition (Constantin Constantius)

“I hate books; they only teach us to talk about things we know nothing about” (Jean-Jacques Rousseau).

A Quick Update (and a few recommendations)

So since starting this blog I have posted, yes… absolutely nothing.

That is, until now! The reasons for my lack of activity include busyness, laziness and the fact that I have been trying to pull together a different blogging project with some friends, causing me to put this one on hold. Nevertheless, here’s a quick update AND ***added bonus*** some recommendations from my current music collection.

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OK, so in about two weeks Katie and I will be moving to Nottingham where we will be working part-time, and (from September) I will be studying part-time for an MA in Philosophical Theology at the University of Nottingham. I’m excited to have been accepted onto the course, as it will give me the opportunity to sit under (?) a number of interesting and well-known scholars. It is a slight change of subject so will be a challenge, but hopefully a good one.

L’Introduction

Hello! My name is Simon Ravenscroft …

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT ME AND THIS BLOG