Two years ago I moved to Victoria to do research and to finish a book project at a centre at the University of Victoria. I had been living in Ontario for a number of years, teaching courses in philosophy, religion, and health studies at various universities in southern Ontario, most recently for the University of Toronto. I needed a change, and found it in this beautiful province. I’ve decided to stay in B.C. Life is short. So to spend it writing, reading, and to be immersed in nature is helping me to find balance in life. I've moved to Squamish in October to be closer to my son.

I’m often thinking about philosophical matters, as well as the phenomenon of religious belief and its practice. I love to read books in these areas, and recently I’ve taken up some new books by Chomsky and Pema Chodrin (I have about ten books started. Perhaps I should finish some before starting any more.) I’m also immersed documentaries, mostly of a political nature - from American politics, torture, the environment, to the sciences to history. If you are not familiar with any of this, but have a curious mind, I’d be happy to tell you about it, and hear what you think about it all! In the meantime I do my own writing too. I'm presently finishing my fourth book.

But life is all about balance (at least the Greek philosopher Aristotle and a few others have thought so), and I’ve thought for a long time that I must always try to find a symmetry between the mind, soul, and body. The mind - not only through study, research, and writing - but also through quiet reflection and meditation. This spills over into the soul, and so I can’t help appreciate spiritual matters - perhaps these days more Buddhist than other traditions. Last, but certainly not least, is the body. To do my academic work, it’s absolutely a necessity that I spend time in gym to expend energy, all which will hopefully bring my feelings of centredness back into place. (I love yoga.)

I might be thought of as a typical academic egg-head, but I don’t think I’m quite like that. There’s more. I love cooking, drinking the right wine with the right meal, traveling, and music - so cooking at home or checking out new restaurants is a passion; I lived in France for three years and had a chance to travel - I want more; and music. Music. I think I have eclectic tastes. I usually have French CBC FM on in the house, whether its classical, international, electronic, blues, jazz, or contemporary. Sigur Ros, Dead Can Dance, k.d. Lang, Neil Young, Zepplin, Mazzy Star, Chemical Brothers, Kid Rock, Tom Waits, and on it goes. NFL - Sunday and Monday Night Football yes, but mainly because it is the one thing I can relax with that doesn’t demand any thinking. Ok., I’ve admitted that watching football isn’t exactly tough minded stuff for the viewer (but who knows, if you’d like to understand what the rules of the game are, I have lots of patience to explain. If not, I certainly understand …). And then there are motorbikes, hiking, being outdoors, and having close friends and family.

In short, symmetry is truly very important for me. And if what I’ve described as this symmetry is also important for you, I’d love to hear from you.

The profile pictures: I have a very good friend who is a photographer. He took this picture of me and a wonderful friend in a cafe. About the crucifixion picture, I was in the opera, Don Carlos, while doing studies in religion in France. It was a bit shocking to be chosen to be a condemned monk for the performance - "auto-da-fe" as it's called. Then soaking up the sun in Cathedral Grove. The picture of me and the kitty are from last year. I looked after her for a family while they were on vacation for twelve months. We are BFF. She is a ferocious kitty, and protected me from flies, spiders, and dragons. I now miss her terribly.

BTW, a tender heart is a necessity. Kindness and thoughtfulness. Eyes that are open to the wonders of the world, even though you aren’t unaware of the things we must do to try to make things better. (I am highly thoughtful about some of the problems the world struggles with, but I don't want it to be toxic. And overt negativity makes me cringe.)

It would be nice to find a nice cafe and see if there is something we can laugh about, and then perhaps tackle the meaning of life and whether God exists. (Topics don't have to be in that order.)