David Ewart

Exit Music, Ian Rankin

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Exit Music, Ian Rankin.

John Rebus is retiring! Say it isn't so. As usual a great tale with several threads that wind - and unwind - as the book unfolds.

However, given the sensitivity that Rankin has previously shown about racism, sexism, patriotism and class issues, I was a bit startled to see a ham fisted, clumsy use of a religious stereotype at the end of the book. (Pages 374-77)

Synopsis of Charles Taylor's, "A Secular Age"

Published by: Belknap Harvard , 2007

Retired McGill Philosopher Dr. Charles Taylor has written a major new work which is on the best-seller list. At 800+ pages, it is a month-long read. What follows is a few pages of my notes, which provides a synopsis of this significant work.- James Murray, Nov 25 2007.

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

We all know we live in an age of secularism. Few of us have a philosophical and theological vocabulary which helps us to describe what it means to live in such an age. Naming one’s context is the first step in learning how to deal with it. The future direction of the Christian Church depends upon how we will react to this current age. Being able to accurately describe what this age consists of affects what are the possible future directions which are open to us.

Taylor notes there are three kinds of secularism.