Breaking the Faith
Breaking the Faith, in the July 2022 issue of New York magazine’s “The CUT” is a personal memoir of a young person’s break with the evangelical Christianity they grew up with. Here are some quotes from the story: “As a teen, I gave everything to Christ. As an adult, I’m finally getting it all back.” “From the moment I stepped onto the school grounds, things were crystal clear: Christian beliefs were interwoven within our curriculum, our textbooks, and our classes. It wasn’t something anyone could tune...
read moreBreaking the Habit
In the category of “breaking the habit” comes this juicy story from Daily Beast, “The Secret Sex Lives of Nuns,” shedding some light on celibate life, and loves, within the cloister. “… an accidental touch that led to an embrace or eye contact that made her blush, but at some point in the mission, they kissed. By the time they made it back to Italy, they had cast aside their vows of celibacy and were madly planning their departure from religious life.” Continue...
read moreThe Secret Knowledge of Believing
Reality vs Belief — which has more power? Today I watched “The Secret Knowledge of Belief” which posits that belief is able to transform or create reality. I ask myself, which is more powerful? Belief? Or Reality? And what is the relationship between belief and consciousness? Add your comments below or join discussion on this topic in the forum.
read moreDeath and Beyond – The Ultimate Question
Today is Palm Sunday. It is a warm and breezy sunny day in Albuquerque, so I have the balcony doors open and the sun is streaming in. As I write this, I can hear the chimes of the Presbyterian Church a few blocks east, tolling a familiar hymn, the notes carried on the wind. Yesterday I received a message from Eliza, informing me that our mutual friend, David Donaldson, had passed away after a brief hospice stay at Lovelace Medical Center. David was my first new friend here in Albuquerque when Patricia and I moved here about two years ago....
read moreThe Long March of Secularism
“About a quarter of U.S. adults (27%) now say they think of themselves as spiritual but not religious, up 8 percentage points in five years,” Pew Research Center reported… Read: “The religious right isn’t doing much for religion” from SFGATE
read moreWhat It Takes to Start a Forum
Someone wrote recently that “Discussion forums are dead,” now that Facebook and Twitter have become such huge magnets for online social discourse. Is that so? Is there really no longer a place on the internet for an entirely public forum, where anyone can pose questions and engage with others on topics that are of significance to them? Enclaves of Private Groups One could argue that Facebook and Twitter are not actually “public discussion forums” at all, since every participant chooses who is IN their circle and who is...
read moreScoring in Church
“How many of you God loving, or fearing, Christians get high before going to church? No, really, I’m asking. You don’t have to answer me, but the folks at addictions.com did in fact inquire about Christians and their cannabis, and other drug, habits. The results were quite fascinating, at least for this non-Christian academic religion egghead.” Read more: “Drugs, Spirituality, and Scoring in Church” from Huffington Post
read moreDefinition and Meaning
”According to polling by the Pew Research Center on Religion & Public Life, roughly one-quarter of all U.S. adults now define themselves as spiritual but not religious.” “But what defines spirituality? What is spiritual practice? Must it be attached to a religion? At Lancaster Theological Seminary on Tuesday, a small gathering of seminary guests discussed spirituality — what it means and how it is manifested.” Read more: “The definition and meaning of what it means to be spiritual has changed over time” from Lancaster...
read moreCrystals: Meaningful Spiritual Totem or Lucky Rabbit Foot?
I had a lucky rabbit foot when I was a youngster. It was a beautiful orange color. It was attached to a keychain I kept in my pocket, and it got so worn from going in and out of my pocket that a lot of the fur wore off. It was a handy way to grab the keys where ever I had left them. Was it good for luck? I don’t know, I didn’t really believe in that sort of thing. Some people carry crystals with them. For comfort, for luck, for spiritual guidance? Read “Spiritual But Secular” from UC...
read moreFinding Ritual in Spirituality
Have you ever noticed? The word SPIRITUAL contains the word RITUAL. As you pursue your own spiritual path, are there rituals that add meaning and purpose to your daily life? Some meditate, some walk, some chant, some have a quiet space, some dance, some look for opportunities to be helpful. What are the rituals that define your spiritual path?
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