Institutionalisation is the enemy (mixed motivation, fossilisation, bureaucratisation) and requires constant vigilance.   Nigel Pocock   As Steve Taylor observes, undue concern with offices, status, and hierarchy, at the expense of empathy, will destroy connection. Indeed, it will lead to disconnection and tyranny, narcissism, and abuse of power. This is […]

The more controversial aspect of Steve Taylor’s book is in the way in which ‘spirituality’ is put forward as the most powerful ‘cure’ for disconnection, and vice-versa, and what provides for connection and empathy.   Nigel Pocock   “Spirituality” is essentially the means by which a whole egocentric lifestyle can […]

In his recent book (“DisConnection”, 2023), Dr. Steve Taylor (Leeds Beckett University, UK), puts forward the deceptively simple thought, that a lack of empathy and connection between peoples, nations, governments and individuals, is what is facilitating abusive tyrants at every level.   Nigel Pocock   This is driven by a […]

What unites all fundamentalists is an over-riding commitment to a sacred text, through which all of truth must be interpreted. The sacred text cannot be questioned; only obeyed.    Nigel Pocock   In the past the word ‘fanatick’ (sic) meant an ‘enthusiast’ and it usually seems to have had an […]

People who say that their over-riding priority is their self-esteem, are the opposite. They are insecure, sometimes to the extent that they will use any methods, even illegal ones, to enhance what they believe is necessary to wipe out their poor self-image.   Nigel Pocock   Do people really love […]