The job was taking much longer than expected. I didn’t know enough about it to understand the problem. It was clear to me that above the drop ceiling in the family room, a bundle of cables and various electronic boxes had been stashed out of sight. Somehow, this rat’s nest… Read More »Ferguson, Racism, and Overcoming Fear
The practice is called, “tonglen.” The word is Tibetan and can be translated as giving and taking or sending and receiving. The practice appears to date to the 12th century in Tibet, but originated in India before that. Over the last several months, I’ve been learning more about the Tibetan… Read More »Buddhist Practice and Christian Lent
Valentine’s Day: a day for roses, candy and romance! School children distribute greetings to their friends and couples share intimate dinners followed by … well, we don’t need to explore the post-dinner affections. The point is this: Valentine’s Day is THE day when we celebrate love. But what about the… Read More »Valentine: the Man, the Martyr, and the Inspiration for Love
In my youth, I attended Catholic schools. In that setting, I was taught a great deal about Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Mary I learned about was pure, humble, obedient, silent and long-suffering. As an adult, I came to understand that the Mary presented to me in my youth… Read More »Giving Birth to God
Why am I a Christian? Over the years, a number of people have asked me this question. After all, I hold positions not typically associated with most American Christians. I am pro-choice, support marriage equality for lesbian and gay people, view stem cell research as promising and hopeful, and accept… Read More »On Being a Christian
Nine years after the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, I cannot help but consider the spiritual impact of that traumatic day: September 11, 2001. On that day, much of the world watched the dramatic events unfold. On that day, much of the world was at… Read More »September 11: The Spiritual Impact of the Grievous Blow
For some time, there has been significant debate about whether the facts in the Bible are true. This debate has been framed in a variety of ways. In the early twentieth century, biblical scholars searched for evidence of the historical Jesus. School boards consider the merits of biblically based creationism… Read More »What Good Is Religion if the Facts Aren’t True?
She’s regularly in the news. She’s the current a pop sensation. She generates press by acting, dressing, and presenting herself as over-the-top. At age 24, Stefani Germanotta has achieved international fame within two years of the release of her first album. In the midst of the glamour and well-honed PR,… Read More »Lady Gaga: What is the Truth?