Living Poetry In the Laboratory of God - Pádraig Ó Tuama
Nov 18, 2025
Pádraig Ó Tuama, an Irish poet and theologian renowned for his conflict mediation, shares insights from his upcoming work, Kitchen Hymns. He discusses R.S. Thomas's explorations of silence and doubt, highlighting how poetic language can navigate the divine. Pádraig reflects on modern prayer as a practice of mutual consciousness rather than mere rhetoric. He connects kitchen rituals to spirituality and examines the creative potential of 'nothing.' With a focus on constructive conflict, he urges listeners to embrace transformative practices.
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Roots That Shaped A Vocation
- Pádraig traces his formation to Irish culture, family, and education steeped in language and music.
- He connects these roots to interests in religion, poetry, and questions of colonization and peace.
Poetry As Honest Agnosticism
- R.S. Thomas combines priesthood with poetry to probe the limits of language about God.
- His work treats God as largely unknowable and explores writing into that agnostic void.
Reading 'Emerging' As A Turning Point
- Pádraig reads R.S. Thomas's 'Emerging' and highlights its scientific language and aging perspective.
- The poem moves from earlier pleading to a new recognition of God as 'God of form and number.'
