The Estuary Book Club (Hobart)

The Estuary Book Club Hobart is a fortnightly group for people wanting to discuss religion, faith, and belief from the outside. We invite people from all backgrounds and philosophical positions to read a book with us, and chat about it in community.

An estuary is a body of water into which one or more rivers flows, and which also has access to the sea. It is a place of joining and mixing. This is what we are hoping our book club will be - a place where people can join and mix with others as we discuss some of life's deeper questions.

Imagine a gathering where:

• Your doubts are heard
• Your perspectives matter
• Complexity is embraced
• No belief is too controversial to discuss

We're not here to convert, but to understand. Our book club is a judgement-free zone where different worldviews can meet, challenge each other, and grow together—with a particular interest in exploring Christian thought.

We will slowly work our way through a variety of books and authors exploring life, faith and culture, albeit with a slant towards the Christian world view. Sceptics and enquirers are very welcome to come and share thoughts, to offer critique, to come learn together with us in a safe and open environment.
All backgrounds welcome—Christians, atheists, agnostics, and everyone in between

C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce is a powerful allegorical novel where a ghostly protagonist takes a bus from the grey landscape of Hell to the solid beauty of Heaven, encountering other spirits who must decide whether to shed their sinful attachments and embrace Heaven's grace, or remain in their shadowy existence.

This fable explores profound questions of good and evil, redemption, and the human condition, positing that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside by the stubbornness of its inhabitants. The novel challenges readers to reflect on the spiritual significance of their everyday choices and desires, and helps us think about the complexity of morality; vividly portraying Hell as a self-induced state of being that prevents deep connection with those closest to us.

Just as relevant today as when it was written, we're expecting great discussion to follow us into every session. We hope to provide a structured approach by reading two short chapters per session, to help different people and ideas meet and engage, fostering a space for meaningful conversations.

• When: Every second Wednesday at 1pm at the Devil's Brewery (Macquarie Street)
• Cost: Free (whenever you join the first book is on us!)
• Who: Anyone looking for a community to discuss big ideas. Feel free to bring friends

Alistair Bain is the facilitator of the Estuary Book Club Hobart, and he will help conversation flow during our times together.

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