The Monthly Salon: October
And a recording of my recent talk
Hello all. I’m heading home from America today, just in time avoid both Halloween and the presidential election. It will be good to get back to my family in rainy Ireland. I’ve been in New York City for nearly three days and my soul is fraying at the edges.
In the meantime, here is a recording of the lecture I gave here the day before yesterday, entitled ‘Against Christian Civilisation.’ You can also find an audio-only version in the Chantry.
And now it’s time for our monthly open house, in which my readers discuss whatever topic is on their mind. Please do fire away below, and don’t be shy if you have never commented before. The usual comment rules apply: behave here as you would behave in real life to an actual human being. Say anything you like, and feel free to fight over ideas - but make sure it’s a good-natured scrap.
Just a small celebration: I've been able to attend liturgy at my local Orthodox parish with regularity of late, and I've also been able to bring my kids with me. Right now I'm praying my wife will join (she's a believer, just not quite ready to come with me) at some point soon.
They also have weekly open prayer time every Tuesday, and as God would have it, they'll be open on election day next week. I plan to spend part of my morning there praying that day.
Oh my goodness Paul, this is so radical in ALL the best ways. I have been twisted up in the Save The West crew, as I live in Cambridge, there is a lot of this talk and people I consider to be friends are absolutely at the heart of it and wield great power, are all over the internet and very, very well connected to all the Christian civilisational A listers. But...once I had cottoned on to the 'message', (it wasn't always as clear as it now is) I had a case of serious cognitive dissonance and quite honestly a feeling of utter unease. I did not come to Christ in order to gain a position in the culture war, or to support wars that benefit 'The Christian West'. I came to him because of what you describe, his wisdom is madness to the world. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to seek counsel in the Romanian Orthodox priest in my parish and with Fr Serafim at Mull Monastery, I asked them both about this and they told me the truth of it, which you also reflect in your talk so clearly here. I hope this lecture is widely received!