Hi Kevin

Fair questions. I had an argument recently with another writer, over what I saw as a scorched earth policy towards spiritual culture, which he seems to see no good in. I DO see a lot of good in spirituality and the religious traditions underpinning it.

I said in the piece that what motivates me is two things. First, simply the desire to share my research (and people are free to criticise and dispute it) because I think it’s interesting, original and valid.

But I have a second ethical goal, which is to challenge a tendency in spiritual culture towards elitism and instead to emphasise humility and compassion. I am also unpacking and challenging ‘spiritual evolution’ as an idea – I’m wary of the idea that some humans are evolving into a superior species. I think it’s possible to be ‘spiritual’ without believing that (indeed ive never believed that). I think that idea easily becomes toxic.

So that’s where I’m coming from – not trying to debunk spirituality entirely but rather to encourage a reform of it in a particular direction, if that doesn’t sound too ridiculously pompous. We’re all of us weavers of our collective culture and we all choose what to emphasise and what to challenge.

Best wishes

Jules