Alastair McIntosh
@alastairmci.bsky.social
Human ecologist and Quaker, I share on social justice, environment, land reform, nonviolence and spirituality. Books include Soil and Soul, Poacher's Pilgrimage & Riders on the Storm. Honorary prof Glasgow Uni.
Hebrides and Govan.
www.AlastairMcIntosh.com
Hebrides and Govan.
www.AlastairMcIntosh.com
Few things I like better than when the Quakes and the Papes get it together over liberation theology! This is about Pope Leo’s “apostolic exhortation”, as appreciatively reported in the Quaker weekly. “It is not possible to separate the worship of God from concern for the poor.“
November 24, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Few things I like better than when the Quakes and the Papes get it together over liberation theology! This is about Pope Leo’s “apostolic exhortation”, as appreciatively reported in the Quaker weekly. “It is not possible to separate the worship of God from concern for the poor.“
Right. Whodunnit???
November 17, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Right. Whodunnit???
Vérène and I are heading up Ben Lomond, a wee quiet celebration of my 70th.
November 16, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Vérène and I are heading up Ben Lomond, a wee quiet celebration of my 70th.
Not often that I have to these days!
November 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Not often that I have to these days!
We had an excellent event at GalGael, Bob, a year-late Glasgow launch of the book. Left to right: Livi of GalGael, Dan Gunn (ex-governor), Sara Trevelyan (psychotherapist), Karyn McCluskey (Com. Justice Scot.) and Mike Nellis (Quaker criminologist). And another rich discussion at GalGael last night.
November 7, 2025 at 8:27 AM
We had an excellent event at GalGael, Bob, a year-late Glasgow launch of the book. Left to right: Livi of GalGael, Dan Gunn (ex-governor), Sara Trevelyan (psychotherapist), Karyn McCluskey (Com. Justice Scot.) and Mike Nellis (Quaker criminologist). And another rich discussion at GalGael last night.
Treating prisoners with human dignity - insights from the Barlinnie Special Unit and reducing the need to have prisons. My Thought for the Day today on BBC Radio Scotland. Can also be heard about 1:24 in (0723) at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
November 6, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Treating prisoners with human dignity - insights from the Barlinnie Special Unit and reducing the need to have prisons. My Thought for the Day today on BBC Radio Scotland. Can also be heard about 1:24 in (0723) at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
I took it to mean that if we are looking, we will find God where there is suffering in the world. That can be both literal poverty as destitution (Luke 6:20) and/or the “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3).
October 24, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I took it to mean that if we are looking, we will find God where there is suffering in the world. That can be both literal poverty as destitution (Luke 6:20) and/or the “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3).
He does say that - here is where in the article. And yes, nice quote.
October 24, 2025 at 2:23 AM
He does say that - here is where in the article. And yes, nice quote.
Last call for this tomorrow (Wednesday 22nd) on the Barlinnie Special Unit (prison reform) at the GalGael Trust, 15 Fairlie St, near Ibrox subway station Glasgow. 3.30 prompt with speakers Mike Nellis (criminologist), Karyn McCluskey (Community Justice), Sara Trevelyan (therapist) & Livi of GalGael.
October 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Last call for this tomorrow (Wednesday 22nd) on the Barlinnie Special Unit (prison reform) at the GalGael Trust, 15 Fairlie St, near Ibrox subway station Glasgow. 3.30 prompt with speakers Mike Nellis (criminologist), Karyn McCluskey (Community Justice), Sara Trevelyan (therapist) & Livi of GalGael.
I think this captures the AI problem well. The poacher takes the pick of the pot, but is not invested in the ecology of the river and does nothing to help sustain its banks and purity of flow. When I use AI for anything I serious, I always request and go to primary sources - same as with Wikipedia.
October 8, 2025 at 6:40 AM
I think this captures the AI problem well. The poacher takes the pick of the pot, but is not invested in the ecology of the river and does nothing to help sustain its banks and purity of flow. When I use AI for anything I serious, I always request and go to primary sources - same as with Wikipedia.
Not a calm to to push the boat out into Broad Bay … unless you want to join the Brevig roll call 😢
October 3, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Not a calm to to push the boat out into Broad Bay … unless you want to join the Brevig roll call 😢
October 3, 2025 at 8:55 PM
My solidarity with Jewish friends both known & unknown on this terrifying day for their community. The atrocity in Manchester can only reactivate fears that have inhuman historical roots. Let us end all spirals of violence: “neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4) ✡️🙏🏼
October 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
My solidarity with Jewish friends both known & unknown on this terrifying day for their community. The atrocity in Manchester can only reactivate fears that have inhuman historical roots. Let us end all spirals of violence: “neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4) ✡️🙏🏼
What a lovely added reflection. I must remember to share that with Carol in the morning, she was my BBC editor for that piece.
Meanwhile, on the mackerel front, last night’s catch at Kinghorn (this time on the Firth of Forth) was 28, and into the darkness wirh headtorch, when they stopped taking.
Meanwhile, on the mackerel front, last night’s catch at Kinghorn (this time on the Firth of Forth) was 28, and into the darkness wirh headtorch, when they stopped taking.
September 30, 2025 at 8:06 PM
What a lovely added reflection. I must remember to share that with Carol in the morning, she was my BBC editor for that piece.
Meanwhile, on the mackerel front, last night’s catch at Kinghorn (this time on the Firth of Forth) was 28, and into the darkness wirh headtorch, when they stopped taking.
Meanwhile, on the mackerel front, last night’s catch at Kinghorn (this time on the Firth of Forth) was 28, and into the darkness wirh headtorch, when they stopped taking.
What fun on today's Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Scotland to have gently subverted World Quaker Week with a tale of fish and the legendary Scrappy Mick of the @GalGael Trust. Text below and a photo of Mick from 2017, or listen to an MP3 recording at: tinyurl.com/b2hhc99f
September 30, 2025 at 9:27 AM
What fun on today's Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Scotland to have gently subverted World Quaker Week with a tale of fish and the legendary Scrappy Mick of the @GalGael Trust. Text below and a photo of Mick from 2017, or listen to an MP3 recording at: tinyurl.com/b2hhc99f
And for verification, here’s tonight’s catch just landed at Kinghorn. Now off to see my son and his family before hoping to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow.
September 29, 2025 at 7:08 PM
And for verification, here’s tonight’s catch just landed at Kinghorn. Now off to see my son and his family before hoping to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow.
I'm giving a keynote lecture at 2 pm (UK) on Fri 3 Oct to the annual gathering of Quakers Uniting in Publications on "Depth and Discernment in Spiritual Writing". Focussed mainly on my titles with @BirlinnBooks. Other speakers too - full programme and Zoom registration at www.quakerquip.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I'm giving a keynote lecture at 2 pm (UK) on Fri 3 Oct to the annual gathering of Quakers Uniting in Publications on "Depth and Discernment in Spiritual Writing". Focussed mainly on my titles with @BirlinnBooks. Other speakers too - full programme and Zoom registration at www.quakerquip.com
I know. But isn’t that the point of redemption, of “metanoia” as a complete transformation of being.
Origen (arguably) thought that even the devil would be “saved”. That would disappoint Augustine, who thought that viewing the torments of hell would be a bonus from the upstairs gallery.
Origen (arguably) thought that even the devil would be “saved”. That would disappoint Augustine, who thought that viewing the torments of hell would be a bonus from the upstairs gallery.
September 23, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I know. But isn’t that the point of redemption, of “metanoia” as a complete transformation of being.
Origen (arguably) thought that even the devil would be “saved”. That would disappoint Augustine, who thought that viewing the torments of hell would be a bonus from the upstairs gallery.
Origen (arguably) thought that even the devil would be “saved”. That would disappoint Augustine, who thought that viewing the torments of hell would be a bonus from the upstairs gallery.
Interestingly, I ran a quick check with ChatGPT when I posted that. I didn’t validate what it said, but it did come out with quite a good report card for Scotland. Here’s the top and tail.
September 23, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Interestingly, I ran a quick check with ChatGPT when I posted that. I didn’t validate what it said, but it did come out with quite a good report card for Scotland. Here’s the top and tail.
3. I couldn’t recommend this book to anyone not very well versed in Jung, and even then, I found it a hard and/or obscure read much of the time. Here’s one of the easier passages. Some fantastic insights, “a gift half understood”, but requires so much context even to get close to it.
September 22, 2025 at 9:25 PM
3. I couldn’t recommend this book to anyone not very well versed in Jung, and even then, I found it a hard and/or obscure read much of the time. Here’s one of the easier passages. Some fantastic insights, “a gift half understood”, but requires so much context even to get close to it.
For good reason called the Parasol mushroom. Vérène coats them in egg & breadcrumbs before frying. Considered good eating www.mushroom-appreciation.com/parasol-mush... but esp in North America beware confusion with a toxic lookalike (if no further posts from me here, it’s been wild while it lasted).
September 17, 2025 at 7:53 PM
For good reason called the Parasol mushroom. Vérène coats them in egg & breadcrumbs before frying. Considered good eating www.mushroom-appreciation.com/parasol-mush... but esp in North America beware confusion with a toxic lookalike (if no further posts from me here, it’s been wild while it lasted).
3/3 Last night Vérène and I had our meal at an inn where RLS had stayed. The manager loved it that I knew Stevenson’s house in Edinburgh and appreciated how he is celebrated in the French Cévennes mountain range. We also celebrated, with a bottle of the beer brewed in his memory.
September 17, 2025 at 7:09 AM
3/3 Last night Vérène and I had our meal at an inn where RLS had stayed. The manager loved it that I knew Stevenson’s house in Edinburgh and appreciated how he is celebrated in the French Cévennes mountain range. We also celebrated, with a bottle of the beer brewed in his memory.
2/3 At Pont de Montvert-Sud on the Stevenson Trail the tourist information office (and the local shops) is full of books about RLS and “Modestine”, many of them in graphic format. Who would have thought that a Scotsman’s travels with a donkey would have left such a celebrated legacy.
September 17, 2025 at 6:59 AM
2/3 At Pont de Montvert-Sud on the Stevenson Trail the tourist information office (and the local shops) is full of books about RLS and “Modestine”, many of them in graphic format. Who would have thought that a Scotsman’s travels with a donkey would have left such a celebrated legacy.
2. Here’s Corbin’s critique of Freud's stuckness, in contrast to Jung, as read through the lens of his (Corbin’s) chapter on the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
September 15, 2025 at 10:32 PM
2. Here’s Corbin’s critique of Freud's stuckness, in contrast to Jung, as read through the lens of his (Corbin’s) chapter on the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
I’m in France and reading the French philosopher of the soul, Henry Corbin of the Sorbonne. Many parts are beyond my capacity, but I find in it some scintillating insights. This passage, on the Pure Land of the Setting Sun of Infinite Light, carried me to Yeats’ Celtic Twilight.
September 14, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I’m in France and reading the French philosopher of the soul, Henry Corbin of the Sorbonne. Many parts are beyond my capacity, but I find in it some scintillating insights. This passage, on the Pure Land of the Setting Sun of Infinite Light, carried me to Yeats’ Celtic Twilight.