I’m coming to the conclusion that, when it comes to academic study, I’m a bit weird. I have a meeting with my academic supervisor on Wednesday and I thought I’d have a look through the course lists to see what I might want to do or audit.

It had previously been suggested that I take one taught course and use the essay from it as one of my research essays. So, the most likely candidate for this is the ‘Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics’ course. Strangely, despite my theological affinity with Barth (according to a questionnaire on Facebook – so it must be right) I’ve never studied him in any depth. What I have studied though I have quite liked.

So, anyway, that’s not so weird I guess. But then I had a look through some of the undergraduate courses (how elitist – I’m a postgrad) to see what might be worth auditing. Well, given the basis of my research, how could I possibly ignore a course called ‘Death: Perspectives on Thanatology and Eschatology’? I recall seeing it when I was in third year but it didn’t fit well with my timetable. So now’s my chance to do it. The lecturer is a Roman Catholic priest whose parish is in Falkirk (ish). I had him as a lecturer in first year. He’s good, when you can figure out what he’s on about – he’s a philosopher. Lot’s of talk of cherry trees, dogs and true love over the frozen peas in Tesco. Don’t worry if that’s left you confused – it’s the same reaction the class had at the time. – but it’s obviously stuck in the memory.

Anyway, Barth and Death, the perfect combination. If I sound thoroughly depressed over the next wee while, you’ll know why.