Issue 153

Brother Moore argues Leisure is a lost art

26th February 2007

The latest in the series of theology lectures was presented by Brother Patrick Moore on the topic of 'Leisure - The Lost Art' on Monday 13 February in the James Callaghan building.

A lecturer in spirituality and a scholar in residence at Sarum College in Salisbury, Brother Patrick Moore spoke about the history of the word 'leisure' and discussed different parts of history to get his points across. He also covered development throughout ancient Greece as well as the middle ages, making it easy for the audience to understand.

Brother Patrick also referred to Aristotle in order to demonstrate how the Christian church had taken some values from the ancient Greeks.

Brother Patrick mentioned the idea of the usefulness of time and reflected on his own nightmare train journey getting to Swansea to prove his point. His examples not only made the audience laugh; he also proved his ideas throughout the lecture.

Brother Patrick's main idea was that we are so encouraged to live chronologically in our society that we get locked into a habit of remembering the past and anticipating the future, but we forget to live in the present. The consequence of this is that we lock ourselves into guilt and anxiety by only living in the past and thinking of the future.

Brother Patrick claimed we are locked in so much to this way of thinking that we forget what the present is. He encouraged the audience to try and live in the present more, and offered suggestions on how. He said that to create complete spirituality we must stop living chronologically, live in the present and cultivate an ability to just stop and be still.

Nigel John, University Chaplain said that Brother Patrick was, "a man of great holiness, humour and warmth. His words were well received by an audience of over 100 people." Brother Patrick said he had an, "extremely warm reception and that it was a strange turnout for a wet Tuesday evening for it to be full.

"I am impressed with everyone I have met. They have been very open, warm and very hospitable.' The next lecture will be delivered by the Very Reverend Wyn Evans (Dean of St Davids) on "The St David of the Eleventh Century" the 13 March, at 7pm in the James Callaghan Building.

Eleni Cashell