“Religion at its best is an expression of something that is deeply embedded in the human person”
Reflections
“There seems to be an innate spirituality that has its origins in and expresses our essential humanity, which bubbles up when we get in touch with the source of our being. For me this helps to explain why the use of water is to be found in a wide range of religious practices and why buildings like St Paul’s in London, and St John’s here in Brisbane, draw into a prayerful stillness people who claim to have no faith,” says The Very Rev’d Dr Peter Catt
If I were called in
To construct a religion
I should make use of water.
Going to church
Would entail a fording
To dry, different clothes;
My liturgy would employ
Images of sousing,
A furious devout drench,
And I should raise in the east
A glass of water
Where any-angled light
Would congregate endlessly.
‘Water’, Philip Larkin
Philip Larkin fascinates me.
During his life he didn’t have much time for religious practice and yet some of his poetry captures deep religious truths.
His poem, ‘Church Going’, describes the importance of having buildings set aside for use by anyone who needs a place “to be”.
The poem I quote above, ‘Water’, captures baptismal imagery in a most unorthodox, but compelling way.
When he died he left a substantial portion of his estate to St Paul’s Cathedral, London, which he saw as a blessing to humanity.
People like Larkin remind me that religion at its best is an expression of something that is deeply embedded in the human person.
There seems to be an innate spirituality that has its origins in and expresses our essential humanity, which bubbles up when we get in touch with the source of our being.
For me this helps to explain why the use of water is to be found in a wide range of religious practices and why buildings like St Paul’s in London, and St John’s here in Brisbane, draw into a prayerful stillness people who claim to have no faith.
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