Culture and Meaning: a Study of Ontological Value in Art and Religion

This work attempts to examine how art and religion impact upon our lives in a positive way and give our lives a sense of purpose on the level of inmost being. It begins with a general introduction laying out the state of the modern world, and my choice of the Catholic Church as an ideological defence against the quasi-nihilism of the surrounding culture. I discuss the mentality of being against worldly values and give a defence of the spiritual worldview. I also coin the 'Hazzlewood Trivium' which is a learning programme involving three bastions of Western culture: Shakespeare, Plato and the Bible. In my discussions of art I mention music, painting and poetry. To broaden the cultural discussion there is a section on travel, food & drink. In a conclusion I discuss what ontological value means to me. Also features a postscript: 'Why I am a Catholic'.