Danny Pegg

My guest this week is the newly ordained Revd. Danny Pegg. Danny shares with us how when he was at University, where he studied Religious Studies and Comparative Literature, he had no faith and theology was, at the time, something of an academic passion. We learn how a sudden experience led Danny towards a belief in God. Danny uses the analogy of fandom and refers to a ‘lightning bolt moment’ to explain his experience.

Danny talks about his family background and how in the school he went to, where he was one of only three white pupils in the class, he was surrounded by religion – but the religions he learned about were Jainism and Judaism rather than Christianity. Danny discusses how for him faith is exotic and how, even when he was a student and was used to being around students who were mainly agnostic, the ‘numinous’ is something that he encountered at Canterbury Cathedral.

Danny was born in 1989 during the heyday of pop and he grew up at a time when the Spice Girls were everywhere. We learn how his parents’ musical interests have left a mark on him as well as how Danny owns vinyl but doesn’t possess a record player. Danny explains why older music has more of a resonance now than it did when he was younger.

We learn about the ‘Secret Cinema’ experience, which enables fans not just to revisit but re-enter the films from their past, and we talk about the resurgence of both secular and religious pilgrimages in the world today. Danny shares his experience of presenting on student/community radio and we find out whether Danny enjoyed listening to radio when growing up and the personal nature of the relationship between presenter and listener – ‘the radio as confessional.’

In the final part of this very energetic interview Danny talks about whether his memories are predominantly positive and whether it is possible to be nostalgic about negative experiences. Danny discusses how the way that we choose to remember changes us now. We also learn whether Danny is still in touch with friends from his past and whether he’s a looking back or a looking forward person (not least in the light of the Christian hope), as well as what he means by the notion of ‘walking backwards into the future’.

Please note: Opinions expressed are solely those of Chris Deacy and Danny Pegg and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University of Kent.