Connected

I met some old friends for lunch today then went to the 'Living with gods' exhibition at the British Museum.

The exhibition blurb:
'Beliefs in spiritual beings and worlds beyond nature are characteristic of all human societies. By looking at how people believe through everyday objects of faith, this exhibition provides a perspective on what makes believing a vital part of human behaviour. Seeing how people believe, rather than considering what they believe, suggests that humans might be naturally inclined to believe in transcendent worlds and beings.'

There were some fascinating connections and comparisons across cultures but one huge flaw: absolutely nothing about those who do not believe that there are 'spiritual beings' or 'worlds beyond nature'. 

Of course you will find that 'believing is a vital part of human behaviour' if you ignore those for whom it isn't. Irritating.

The connection of the exhibition to the last showcase was not made explicit (conflict in the name of religion, I assume) but it was the one that touched me most. Syrian artist, Issam Kourbaj, has made memorials to children drowned in the Mediterranean by dipping their shirts in plaster (extra). The inscriptions, in Greek and Arabic, say, 'Unknown Girl 3 months' and 'Unknown boy 6 months'.