LP&B 69 Fiona English Exploring Spirituality

Fiona English exploring spirituality in the 21st Century and reverse podcasting. It is an unusual show in that I am being reverse podcasted, is that even a verb?

Fiona is a positive psychologist and she is exploring spirituality. Where do you sit with community religion and spirituality?

Over the last 20 years, organised religion in the UK and to some extent in Ireland has taken a backseat. Church going membership is still there in the older population. However, churches are not the centre of a community as they were.

Service attendance in the Uk is at an all-time low. People still attend for the significant events, Christmas weddings and funerals. But they are not part of the church community.

I think the loss of community is a big factor in societies problems. No amount of social media is going to replace people coming together for a shared purpose that is not related to political or sport.

Between 50 60 and well into the 70 the majority of the UK population attended a church, on balance it was expected.

I am pleased that pressure to conform has passed, but it has left a vacuum where people choose to mix and communicate in silos. That has lead to the divided society we see today.

My Church Community,

As a child, my family and I went to church, and like most, refreshments were available after the service. People would connect and arrange events and social opportunities. It bolted the community together. My father was there on occasions for the community, not for my mother's faith.

So fast forward 40 + years and the service has no relevance for me. I like the buildings and find the architecture interesting but that's it.

That is my background of where I sit when Fiona approached floated the idea of a reverse podcast. I am always up for a good conversation and how could a refuse.

Exploring Spirituality with Fiona English

Fiona is a coach and business consultant with experience in global investment markets. However, She left the industry to develop a coaching business around positive psychology. It was a calling as, she researches, speaks and writes about Positive Psychology, the science behind what makes individuals and communities flourish.

It is her mission to expand perceptions of spirituality; she believes that we are individually empowered to understand and prioritise our spiritual wellbeing in life. That there is a universality to the experience of spirituality, and it remains a personal path.

If the last two year has taught me anything, I have to agree every is a personal path.

I hope you enjoy the conversation.