Sermon

Another Sunday has passed without an act of observance.

Since moving to England I have rarely troubled the inside of a church . I did frequent a high Church of England place of worship called St Botulph's on Bishopgate for a while . It was near Liverpool street station and proved a sanctum of peace amid the rush of the city. I liked the candles and aesthetics. My forebears and countrymen would be aghast at my lighting of candles. My native Church of Ireland is austere . The various Presbyterians sects and schisms are more austere still.

My mother finds solace in her church. She attends service every Sunday . Her observance is a spiritual matter which has nothing to do with politics or allegiance .

My attitude to organised religion is one of ambivalence . I lost my faith but have slowly moved from atheism to agnosticism. I don't agree with Mr Dawkins and his dismissal of faith as a mental aberration.If it is private and presents no harm to others then people should be free to worship as they wish. The problems arise when religion mixes with politics.

This Sunday I find myself missing the childish boredom of the hymns, the hard seats and the sermon.