Description
Solitude…what does it mean to be alone in an age of constant connection? In this panel event, we ask how experiences of loneliness, reflection and identity are changing in contemporary life.
Islamic educator Mohammed Isaaq and Vicar Giles Goddard reflect on how different faiths, traditions and perspectives understand the value of solitude and the pressures of modern hyper-connectivity. Together, they consider the difference between chosen solitude and unwanted isolation and the role reflection plays in shaping a sense of self.
At a time when conversations around loneliness, burnout and belonging continue to grow, this discussion offers a thoughtful exploration of how space for stillness and self-knowledge can be sustained today.
About the Authors
Giles Goddard
Giles Goddard has been Vicar of St John’s, Waterloo, since 2009. Goddard’s latest book, Exploring Spirit: Finding What Matters in a Broken World, was published by Canterbury Press in 2026. Goddard chairs Faith for the Climate, supporting interfaith work on climate change, and is a former member of the Church of England’s Environment Group. Goddard is also a prominent supporter of LGBTI+ inclusion in the Church.
Mohammed Isaaq
Mohammed Isaaq, founder of Claritas Universal and Knowing Yourself programs, is a self-development specialist and educator. Raised in Birmingham, UK, he pursued postgraduate education and further studies in Morocco, Jordan, and Yemen. Recently graduating in Islamic Psychology from the Cambridge Muslim College, Isaaq returned to the UK in 2017. He teaches Islamic Psychology and Traditional Medicine programs, alongside community projects, globally. With successful programs in over 40 countries, he’s reached over 30,000 participants worldwide.
About the Host
Dr Shanon Shah
Shanon Shah is the author of The Making of a Gay Muslim: Religion, Sexuality and Identity in Malaysia and Britain. A multiple award-winning singer-songwriter, playwright, and journalist in his native Malaysia, he now balances scholarship and activism on religion, politics and social and environmental justice in the UK.
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