'God may speak to us through Russian Communism, through a flute concerto, through a blossoming shrub or through a dead dog. We shall do well to listen to him if he really does so.'
This famous remark by the Swiss Calvinist theologian Karl Barth - not otherwise renowned for his zippily quotable quotes - came forcefully to mind earlier this week. Despite having remembered it since my undergraduate days, I can't say it's something that I've ever really thought about.
Until, that is, I began relistening to one of Bob Dylan's more obscure albums.
