Ben has been posting some interesting, light-hearted reflections on ancestor worship in England. It has been interesting to see an African take on British life (here and here, for example).
This morning, Sue and I took a quick trip into Oxford and visited Blackwell’s bookshop which is place I treat with special reverence. There is no where quite like Blackwells. The front entrance is quite small, but it swiftly opens up into a huge basement room with miles and miles of shelves. All round the building quiet people wander around, browsing books and communicating in whispers. There certainly is the aura of a temple about the place.
Over the years, my interest has changed. During my student days, I used to poke around the biology shelves finding text-books that I couldn’t get elsewhere. Today, we spent our time in the theology and Biblical studies section. Though there were a few books in the popular science section that I would like to have brought home.
Amazon might be cheaper, but there really is nothing better than browsing in a real bookshop with volumes on shelves which you can handle and perhaps read a few pages. We picked up a theology book we’ve been looking for for a few months (it will get reviewed here eventually) and an OS map of the area where we are living. All in all, a nice way to spend a quiet Saturday morning.
2 replies on “A Pagan Temple?”
Aaaah. I’m glad to see the scales falling off your eyes. Deliverance cannot be far behind ;-).
A special place, Blackwells in Oxford. I spent a Saturday afternoon there couple of years ago after one of our workshops at ETP. Got lost in the place, browsing. Magnificent.