An MP3 version of this conversation is at my Talks and Thoughts stream available via podcast feeds. What might Christianity have for us today? How might it stories still speak? Where to find what’s right in the tradition? I was delighted to speak with Paul Kingsnorth, whose substack and other writings since his conversion to… Continue reading Christianity, Covid & Transformation – Paul Kingsnorth in conversation with Mark Vernon
Author: Mark Vernon
William Blake and the Metaverse – The Mental Fight to be a Person
An MP3 version of this talk is at my stream Thoughts and Talks, which should be in your podcast feed. The hard problem of consciousness. Imagination as an “overheated brain”. A future in the Cloud or Metaverse. William Blake was a thinker as well as poet and artist. His prophetic punch comes from seeing through… Continue reading William Blake and the Metaverse – The Mental Fight to be a Person
NEW COURSE – We Must Be Mystics: Owen Barfield & Christianity
A six week online course with Dr Mark Vernon 6th March 2022 to 10th April 2022 Sunday evenings (6pm-7.30pm, UK-time) £10 per session/£60 total CS Lewis called Owen Barfield his “second friend”: Barfield was the one who challenged him and seeded his own best ideas, an experience of encountering Barfield with which JRR Tolkien agreed.… Continue reading NEW COURSE – We Must Be Mystics: Owen Barfield & Christianity
Love and Power – Making sense of science & statistics, control & conspiracies
An MP3 version of this talk can be found in your podcast feed, looking for my Talks and Thoughts. How can we find a way through conflicts in and around science? What about experts and simplifications, uncertainties and advice, control and its consequences? Tensions are only going to get worse as the fallout and impact… Continue reading Love and Power – Making sense of science & statistics, control & conspiracies
From Ulro to Eternity – the place William Blake died. Walk and reflection
A MP3 version of this talk can be found on you podcast feed as my Talks and Thoughts. William Blake died in the apartment he shared with Catherine Blake on Sunday 12 August 1827. A contemporary letter reports: “He died … in a most glorious manner. He said He was going to that Country he… Continue reading From Ulro to Eternity – the place William Blake died. Walk and reflection
William Blake, London & fourfold vision – reflections from Waterloo Bridge
William Blake famously remarked in a letter to Thomas Butts: “Now I a fourfold vision see, And a fourfold vision is given to me; ‘Tis fourfold in my supreme delight And threefold in soft Beulah’s night And twofold Always. May God us keep From Single vision & Newton’s sleep!” But what does it mean to… Continue reading William Blake, London & fourfold vision – reflections from Waterloo Bridge
Light, Love, Logos, Life – How to speak about God
An MP3 version of this talk as at Dante’s Divine Comedy, on you podcast feed. John Vervaeke, Paul VanderKlay and Paul Anleitner asked what “God” means, with John challenging the Pauls to talk about God via Light, Love, Logos and Life, so as not to hide behind the “g” word. Drawing on Dante, I offer… Continue reading Light, Love, Logos, Life – How to speak about God
Prisoner of Fortune, or Boethius on the inconstant
The new Idler magazine is out. Here’s my January 2022 thought… New Years are much associated with luck. It’s why midnight is marked by rituals, from the explosive, such as igniting fireworks, to the convivial, in exchanges of good wishes. “Have a prosperous and healthy New Year!” Whether it’s with a bang or a blessing,… Continue reading Prisoner of Fortune, or Boethius on the inconstant
The Darkness That Is Light. Thoughts from an exhibition
An MP3 version of this talk is at my podcast feed, Dante’s Divine Comedy. The Dante exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, for the 700th anniversary year of 2021, brought together some of the Divine Comedy’s greatest illustrators, living and dead, from Monika Beisner to William Blake and Sandro Botticelli. Here are my reflections on these… Continue reading The Darkness That Is Light. Thoughts from an exhibition
Release of the audiobook of Dante’s Divine Comedy: A Guide for the Spiritual Journey!
Audible have released the audiobook of Dante’s Divine Comedy: A Guide for the Spiritual Journey. I hope you enjoy the first chapter, Inferno 1. For more information go to Audible. The sample chapter can also be heard by finding my podcast feed, Dante’s Divine Comedy.