It’s not necessary to be religious to marvel at religious buildings
I am not a Christian. I am not religious at all, really. Not in the sense of belonging to any organised religion.
And yet some of may favourite places are religious buildings.
I have stood in awe beneath the great dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
I have looked on the ruins of St Andrews cathedral, which was reputed to have the longest nave in Britain.
I have stood in the vast expanse of the courtyard of the Great Mosque in Kairouan and marvelled at the lip of a cistern at its centre. The design is intricate and beautiful masonry work and its function is to remove dust and sand from the water that falls — however rarely — in the courtyard and then flows into the cistern beneath the mosque to be drawn up in times of drought.
I have rested gratefully in the gardens of the deserted monastery of Cartuja on the outskirts of Granada.
And today I spent many hours at a Friary in Kent. For the last hour I sat in a small ancient chapel, alone, quietly contemplating.
On leaving the Roman Catholic chapel I discussed with a friend how Islamic learning was the driving force for Europe emerging from the Dark Ages.
I may not be religious but I can still turn to aspects of religion for peace and hope. The aspects of religion that show humanity at is best.
Only the nefarious and the seriously wrong use religion to sow anger, despair, difference, and violence.
