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Something Understood

Religion & Ethics

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life, taking a spiritual theme and exploring it through music, prose and poetry

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Something Understood: The Midst of Life

The Midst of Life

30/01/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Something Understood, The Midst of Life

Teresa Morgan explores ways of thinking about middle age.

The classicist and Anglican minister Teresa Morgan looks at the 'slightly boring bit' that's found in the middle of lives viewed in the usual linear way.

In the modern western world, we often imagine life as linear, with 'middle age' as the slightly boring long bit that comes between the more dynamic beginning and end. 

Classicist and Anglican minister Teresa Morgan explores alternative ways of considering the midst of life. She cites ancient Roman and traditional Hindu approaches that break life up into several stages that give a sense of progress through those middle years and she draws upon the writings of those for whom mid-life has taken on a different significance, through a change of circumstance or sudden illness.

And she relates the thoughts of Albert Scweitzer, Monica Furlong, Alan Coren and others to the perception of Heaven as eternal life without beginning or end... suggesting that middle age is perhaps a foretaste!

With music by John Tavener, Don Henley, Sophie Tucker and Olivier Messiaen.

Producer: Alan Hall
A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4.

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