Abstract
The idea of this article arose out of the Eighth European Symposium on Group Analysis, Oxford 1990, where the plenary sessions took place in a marquee. I noticed references, especially during these sessions, to the particularly creative and sensitive atmosphere that seemed to be generated, or at least symbolized, by the marquee: the varied ripplings and other movements of its walls and roof, the sense of breezes or movement of the Spirit. Much of the comment carried religious or spiritual undertones, and the situation seemed to lend itself to comparison with the Israelites' Tent of Meeting as described in the Book of Exodus, or with the Gothic choir arrangement, where two sides face each other and sing alternately; or to other kinds of religious gathering to listen sensitively to the Word or Scriptures. I asked myself whether these were more than just rather fanciful comparisons; whether there were further-reaching similarities of any kind between group analysis and religion - considering both these terms in the broadest possible sense. What follows is a provisional response.
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