3 Interview with Theo Simon

In the next video, Theo Simon, singer-songwriter of Seize the Day, talks about what motivates his activism and his commitments.

Activity 3

Watch the video now, paying particular attention to Theo Simon’s linking of celebration and protest, and his ideas about ‘spirituality’.

Activism and reverence for nature

Transcript

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Discussion

The band has performed at many peace camps and activist events (sometimes labelled ‘protests’ but also thought of as ‘protections’), including Extinction Rebellion events.

He explains how celebration and protest weave together in the band’s activism. While he is not keen on the word ‘religion’, he is clear that devotion to the Earth infuses his songs, and in ways that might be considered ‘spiritual’. The terms ‘spiritual’ and ‘spirituality’ are often used to refer to more personal practices and experiences, in contrast to those associated with more formal or institutional ‘religion’.

This interview helps us understand how activism, protest and/or political activities can be shaped, motivated and energised by diverse religious or spiritual ideas and traditions. Precisely because it is not always easy to distinguish between culture and religion – or between religion and politics – it may be helpful to reflect further about these ‘either/or or both/and’ possibilities. The question ‘why do they do that?’ is explored further in the following sections.