Next weekend I'll be off to Cheltenham Racecourse. Not for the races (there aren't any) but to hook up with a few thousand other folk for Greenbelt 2007.

Greenbelt is an all-age Music and Arts Festival that takes place every August Bank Holiday weekend. It has its roots as a Christian endeavour and retains that ethos, though I like to think of them as "crunchy Christians" - you know: the granola-and-soya-milk-for-breakfast,-then-vegetarian-stew-and-real-ale-for-dinner-after-attending-a-"Justice for Palestine"-demonstration kind of Christians.

Along with a concern for social justice is the inclusiveness one can find there. OuterSpace is welcomed and given prime-time venue space for LGBT Christians.

In addition, as one of the main seminars the Catholic theologian, James Alison will be on hand to continue last year's talk on understanding the real meanings of what are often referred to as "The Clobber Passages" in the Bible. He's very good, I was there for last year's talk.

Also, a repeat visit from Peterson Toscano will undoubtedly be as popular as it was last year. He refers to himself as "a quirky queer Quaker" and presents his shows using multiple characterisations that will have you wiping away tears of laughter followed immediately by quiet tears of compassion. A very thought-provoking and intelligent man. (He's staying with Bill and I during the week before the festival).

I can't wait!

Hey James...that sounds really great....I hope you get as much out of it as you put in.

I just recently started to research some stuff on Edward Carpenter...now I know he wasn't a great spiritualist, but he seemed to believe in the human spirit....and I have found there is a Carpenter Community who get together for residentials and workshops....have you ever been involved in any of them? I have posted a link below. I see many of his writings from the Victorian times about being gay...love...liberation and socialism etc are included on the site.

http://www.edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk/

Cheerio or now...Vincent..xx

I haven't had time to read through Carpenter's writings but I was interested to see the community information. It looks like a good group of people who work hard at being 'real', for lack of a better word. Thanks for sharing that link.