![]() He was a science teacher, an excellent science teacher but I didn't study sciences. He says these days that they thought they were punishing him but in fact, it was providential sending him to Ringwood because he met me and my family, but that's all looking back.Ġ3:54 At the time, he was sent out there in a teaching role. He was in a religious order and they sent him out to Aquinas by way in a sense of disciplining him because they thought that he was off the reservation a bit, he was too progressive in his thinking.Ġ3:36 Paul: Heretical in a way, and they wanted to corral him. Was it through the teaching of religion or science? I mean, what kind of was that moment in which you knew this was a special person?Ġ3:10 Paul: Well, it's probably worth observing though I didn't know it at the time that he met me at Aquinas College in Ringwood in 1974 because he had in a sense been sent to Coventry. So, perhaps I'll be writing your biography one day.Ġ2:54 Anyway, so could you maybe using that as a jumping off point about Mark, tell us a little bit about how and why he first made that big impact on you. I met you at a pub in 2012 and, you know, we've since struck up an incredible friendship and relationship which has informed many aspects of my life. In this latest book, I've told the story of how he was all those things to me and as it turns out, to a great many other people as well.Ġ2:34 Nick: It's an extraordinary summary and I guess a fascinating insight into how, you know, life can have sliding door moments where you incidentally meet someone. I would never have anticipated 44 years ago that I'd end up writing his biography and indeed, all those years ago he hadn't done most of what I've described in the biography, but he became, after being my teacher, a mentor, a friend, a role model in a lot of ways and an inspiration. That man was a fellow called Mark O’Lachlan who taught me briefly for one semester in year twelve and made an indelible impression. Since then, over more than 20 years, I've worked as a consultant, I've taught in universities and I've written a string of books.Ġ1:45 This latest book however takes me all the way back to before I launched into that liberal arts degree and in many ways, it tells the story of the person whose influence on me prompted me to want to do that. At that point, I thought I really better a job and I worked in the intelligence services for a number of years after that and they assigned me to work on east Asia.Ġ1:31 After six years in the bureaucracy, I lost interest in being a bureaucrat, intelligence work or otherwise. I then did a doctorate at the Australian National University in international relations which was about US counter insurgency strategies throughout the Cold War. Meaning, truth and value were high on my agenda.Ġ1:14 I did an arts degree in European history. I wanted to understand western civilisation rather than just go into a profession. Briefly about myself, I set out many years ago after leaving school to get myself what you might call a liberal arts education. ![]() This is the technology of our time and I think it's giving us a very flexible means through which to reach a wider audience. It's great to have you here and I was hoping you might be able to open up and firstly tell us a bit about yourself and also about the book which you've just written.Ġ0:45 Paul: Thanks, Nick. Welcome, Paul, to the podcast Eudaimonia. ![]() The show takes its name from the Greek word meaning human flourishing and it is this theme which rests at the heart of the podcast.Ġ0:20 My guest today is Dr Paul Monk, poet and polymath who has been a long-time friend and mentor of mine, who has just written his latest book which is called The Secret Gospel according to Mark: the extraordinary life of a Catholic existentialist. My name is Nick and by hosting these conversations, I hope to engage with women and men who have led interesting and good lives and broadcast their stories to a wider audience for inspiration and interest. Paul Monk on Living an Authentic Religious LifeĠ0:00 Nick: Welcome to Eudaimonia, a podcast about people.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |