"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it. My optimism, then, does not rest on the absence of evil, but on a glad belief in the preponderance of good and a willing effort always to cooperate with the good, that it may prevail." -Helen Keller

Starry Night and the Astronauts, 1972 by Alma Thomas who would have enjoyed Artemis II's mission to the moon.

Relatedly, my copy Conybeare's 'Augustine the African' recently arrived 🙌🏾

Three African Roman authors: Terence (c.195 BCE), born in Carthage, has 6 surviving comedies. Tertullian (c.155 CE), of Berber &/or Phoenician origin, author of Apologeticus, 1st major work on Christianity in Latin. Apuleius (c.120CE), novelist, philosopher, from Numidia, in present-day Algeria.

Pope Leo XIV carried the cross across all fourteen stations for over an hour. The prayers named children who had been “taken away and imprisoned during protests, deported by policies devoid of compassion, shipwrecked on desperate journeys of hope, killed in war zones, and wiped out in death camps.”

'Resurrection' Alma Thomas, 1966

On Good Friday, some of my favourite Pietàs 💔💔💔 Vincent van Gogh's - Pietà (after Delacroix). 1889

The deadline has been extended for the call for papers for our next conference in Leeds, UK; 19-22 August 2026. The title of the conference is 'Lost in Translation? Celebrating Language Diversity in Science and Religion'. New deadline is the 14 April 2026. We look forward to seeing you in Leeds!

A sign of spring in Oxford - magnolia and people sitting on lawns 🌸 📷 | New College, University of Oxford

"The practice of violence, like all action, changes the world, but the most probable change is to a more violent world." Hannah Arendt

In this recent, open access publication, I logically formulate the clash between quantum time & space-time via an analysis of Augustine's theories of time #PhilSci Here's an abstract 👇🏽

On Mothering Sunday thinking about Mary "Mother" Seacole (1805- 1881) Medical practitioner who used her sophisticated knowledge of pharmacology to nurse those wounded in the Crimean war. Author of the first autobiography by a woman of African descent in Britain.

'The Seventh Knot' (1969) Yusuf Grillo One of my fave pieces from Nigerian Modernism exhibition at Tate ❤️

Submissions (< 10,000 words) invited for 2026 Du Châtelet Prize in Philosophy of Physics. Topic Celebrating 300th anniversary of 3rd ed. Newton’s Principia. www.duchateletprize.org Winner will receive $1000, workshop & SHPS pub Open to grad students & w/in 5 yrs PhD Deadline September 1, 2026 #HPS

I have an article in the latest publication of 'Philosophy, Theology, and the Sciences' journal: An Anachronistic Analysis of St Augustine's Asymmetric Conception of Time Perception, It's lovely to hold a physical copy but it is also available (open access) at:

The traditional Bodleian Oath, which every reader is required to read aloud on seeking admission to the Bodleian Libraries 📚 #WorldBookDay 📷 | @bodleian.ox.ac.uk#WorldBookDay

Moses and His Ethiopian Wife Zipporah Jacob Jordaens, c.1645-1650

Purrrf pastry I'll see myself out...

Some catwalk images from Tolu Coker's show at London Fashion Week today (19 Feb). King Charles made an appearance "walking across [a recreation] of Mozart Estate" where the fashion designer grew up.

Acclaimed artist Betye Saar is 99 years old. She turns 100 in July. #ArtSky #BlackSky #BHM

The irony of an AI system asking me to verify that I am human will never cease to infuriate 😡

Signs of Spring 🙏🏽❤️ #BloomScrolling

15 years ago today I arrived on Downing Street in a cage. I've seen off Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak and I'm still going strong. Only two Prime Ministers have ever done longer stints here: William Pitt the Younger and Sir Robert Walpole. Bill and Bob - I'm coming for you... (Photos AP)

Happy birthday to Alfred North Whitehead. On #science and #religion he says, “When we consider what religion is for [hu]mankind, and what science is, it is no exaggeration to say that the future course of history depends upon the decision of this generation as to the relation between them."

The room featuring pottery by Ladi Kwali at the Nigerian Modernism exhibition currently at Tate Modern

On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, remembering Agnes Yewande Savage (1906 – 1964). The first woman of West African heritage to qualify in orthodox medicine (a distant relative). She obtained 1st class honours in all subjects from University of Edinburgh (where I received an MSc).

When I was five/six, my mother read Orwell's 'Animal Farm' to us as a bedtime story. I realise now that she was inoculating us against authoritarianism.

A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.

'Beekeeper' Tamara Natalie Madden

Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She was 95.

Let no man pull you so low as to hate him. Revd Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Good Boi-cycles 😍

They have quite an operation going. www.mprnews.org/episode/2026...

Madonna 1982, Elizabeth Catlett

African Princesses, c.1950, Ellis Wilson

The deadline approaches to submit a proposal for our next conference, the 21st European Conference on Science & Theology (ECST XXI). Leeds, UK; 19-22 Aug 2026 Conference title: Lost in Translation? Celebrating Language Diversity in Science and Religion Deadline: 31 Jan 2026 More details👇🏾

There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in. ―Desmond Tutu

We've removed the paywall from this guide so everyone can access it. 👇 Stay safe.

Trust in God, She will provide. --Emmeline Pankhurst

'Mother Courage II, 1974, Charles White Strength & courage for the New Year 🙏🏾

Happy birthday, Henri Matisse (b. 31 December 1869). Among his final works are these beautiful ‘Tree of Life’ windows, and tiling (depicting Saint Dominic), in Chapelle du Rosaire aka “Matisse Chapel”

This Nativity painting takes my breath away ❤️ 'Morning Star', Hiroshi Tabata, 1998.

'Annunciation of a Woman', 2018 and 'Our Lady of Regla', 2019 Harmonia Rosales

'Annunciation of a Woman', 2018 and 'Our Lady of Regla', 2019 Harmonia Rosales

It is a trite remark, but one that cannot be too often repeated, that art and science go hand in hand." Edward Sang (Scottish mathematician). 👇🏽Wassily Kandinsky's 'Circles in a Circle', 1923, which draws on geometry.

'Stonehenge' to celebrate winter solstice by Peter Watts (1916-2002)

James Baldwin by Marlene Dumas, 2014 from her ‘Great Men’ portrait series

A belated post on presenting a paper at the American Academy of Religion's conference in Boston (Nov). Overwhelmingly positive feedback on my paper, wonderful connections made, enjoyed Boston's beautiful architecture.

J. M. W. Turner is, hands down, one of my favourite artists. Felt so privileged to have been at a PV of his works this week. There were even moments when I was alone with some of my most adored pieces. Like 'Fishermen at Sea' (1796) and 'Norham Castle, Sunrise' (1845).

Another brilliant and wonderful production by Ballet Black--UK/Europes first black professional neoclassical Ballet company. 'A Shadow Work' (at Sadler's Wells) explores the spectrum of emotions versus conscious and subconscious mental states via beautifully evocative and breathtaking dance ❤️🙏🏽