From the Tutu Center Opening Conference Sept 9-11

This morning's plenary address was given by Christopher Marshall. Dr. Marshall has authored five books on biblical and ethical themes. Among them is Beyond Retribution: A New Testament Vision for Justice, Crime and Punishment (Eerdmans, 2001), named in the 2002 “Outstanding Academic Titles” list produced by the book review journal Choice. It was also listed in the “Top Ten Books for Parish Ministry” by the American Academy of Parish Clergy”, and nominated for the Grawemeyer Award in Religion. He is also doing a workshop at Grace Church this coming Saturday Sept 15th.

He asked what aspects of a religious world view lead to violence and what can be done in each religion to prevent this. He concluded his address by calling for practitioners of every religion to undertake a "terror audit" of the violence from within their own communities. This is a contribution we could all make and a good follow-up exercise to the address.

October 13-14 in Philadelphia

Walker Cup at the Royal County Down

Who wouldn't be drawn to golf for the vistas alone? This year the Walker Cup (US vs. UK) is at the Royal County Down in Newcastle, Northern Ireland.

On March 8, 2007, Harvard University's President-Elect Drew Gilpin Faust took part in a conversation with Ann Braude, Senior Lecturer on American Religious History and director of the Women's Studies in Religion Program, before a small group of HDS friends, discussing the future of education, women's studies, and Harvard University.

RealPlayer is required to view this event.

Kevin Ayers

Here's a rare interview with Kevin Ayers from BBC Radio 4. Scroll down. It so happened that his mother lived several doors down from us when I was a teenager growing up in Herne Bay. "Soft Machine" recordings went into the memory banks. Here's a review of his new album to be released on September 10.

Walk to Pier 82

I walked up the West Side Highway to the newly renovated Pier 82 north of 44th street. Here are some pics from Flickr courtesy of someone else. As you would expect on Labor day weekend, everyone was in the streets and near the water with babies, dogs, bicycles etc. It was magic when a "mariposa monarca" floated across the traffic and onto one of the newly islands of flowers. What fragility!

Is there a future for books?

This is a topic in which all academics have a vested interest. I've just signed a book contract which dictates writing obligations for the immediate future and then, of course, book promotion in the long term. For me, books have a future. But what is its shape?

A recent article in Canada's magazine of the year, the Walrus, by Jon Evans, called "Apocalypse Soon" explores the shape of a digital future on publishers and printed books. There's a lot of data to discuss: the failure of ebooks; the digitization of libraries; questions of copyright. All publishers and authors are chary of free downloads. But there's evidence that offering part or all of a book on line actually increases offline sales. I did this with Jesus' Family Values and it seems to have been somewhat successful.

Publishers are adapting. I note that Penguin now offers books for sale on its website directly to authors. By the same token, authors could offer their digitized books directly to the public without the intervention of peer-review or publishers. But then the onus would be on the public to sift through mounds of self-publication. No question that change is on the horizon for both authors and publishers.

Daily On Line Bible Study from the Methodist Church

The Methodists in the UK have started a new on-line bible study has recently started. It looks good and its a very good thing. Ekklesia describes the venture more fully.

City Clergy in Scotland Offered Self-defense classes

Today's Guardian notes that Scottish clergy are being offered self-defense classes to protect themselves against violent attacks.

Unite, the union which represents more than 2,500 clergymen throughout the UK, is to organise the lessons in self-defence and risk avoidance. It is estimated that 70 per cent of clergymen, many of whom work in inner cities, have experienced violence during work and they are more likely to become victims than doctors, social workers or any member of the emergency services. 'It is a profession where there are always risks,' said Rachel Maskell of Unite.

The Mandaean Humanitarian Movement

A friend sent me this link to this important and informative blog: The Mandaean Humanitarian Movement.

Zadie Smith on Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God"

Today's Guardian has a review by Zadie Smith of her first reading of Zora Neale Hurston's classic "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Its everything a book review should be!