Godliness can lead to a tranquil and placid existence even before the next life, if the experience of Ian Markham, professor of theology and public life at Liverpool Hope University College, is anything to go by. Our sister journal Nursery World reports that he swopped jobs for a day with unbeliever and nursery nurse Sheli Maxwell. He found it all too absorbing, involving non-stop concentration and no time to chat to colleagues. But Ms Maxwell was glad to get back to Hope Park Community Nursery after the day was over - she couldn't stand the "peace and quiet" of Professor Markham's office.