I have just come back from Prague, and one of the places that has dinstinctly moved me was Cafe Louvre, one of the classic old french-type cafe's which has been one of the central places for political and philosophical discussion founded in 1902. These cafes were the hot houses for radical thinking and community development. In many ways these types of cafe quite literally changed the world in its political, philosophical and scientific thinking. This cafe was involved in all the revolutions in central europe, including the last one with the collapse in the USSR. It is directly below this cafe, that the student got shot which led to mass protest and independence in 1989.

In the past the cafe hosted discussions with Franz Kafta, Karel Capek, Albert Einstein, and a lot of the existentialist philosophers. Fantastic!! The cafe is still almost in its original form, billiard rooms, discussion groups etc. I love it!

I have realised why I am so keen about the Cafe church dream we hold, as it makes connection with this type of radical community, where people share their dreams and hopes in a wonderful place where people open up and share their lives in a very public space. For me it comes close to the transformative conversations that Jesus had with many over meals and parties where he munched and drank through the whole new testament about radical ideas concerning the Kingdom of God. So Cafe Louvre has inspired me.... To see my pics of Prague, click here