The movie, Avatar, presents multiple opportunities to consider spirituality. In this last posting of a three part series, I will consider the most dramatic illustration of spiritual growth which is embodied in the main character, Jake Sully. A former Marine who is left paraplegic from a battle injury, Jake replaces… Read More »Avatar, part 3: Open to Harmony
The movie, Avatar, depicts three archetypal characters that embody success in American culture. These characters, and the values they live by, are presented as a foil to the values of the Na’vi people of Pandora. The corporately funded mining operation is headed by Parker Selfridge. Clearly an accomplished manager, Selfridge… Read More »Avatar, part 2: Money, Power, and Knowledge
Having received raved reviews, the movie Avatar has proven to be an award winning movie which has left many people spell-bound, returning to the movie not just because of the special effects but because of the moral story found in the movie. While the movie provides a mesmerizing entertainment experience,… Read More »Avatar: What is Worth Living For?
Conservative Christians dominate political and social life in the United States. While I know that there are hundreds of thousands of Evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics who consider themselves to be conservative Christians, it’s puzzling to me how the concepts of conservatism and Christianity can be aligned. While American conservatives… Read More »Conservative and Christian?
“It is God’s desire to become manifest to us, but … God wills to take created forms for this manifestation – forms of persons, events, circumstances, which call for faith if we are to recognize the Divine Presence, a faith that can discern through and in the human. For each… Read More »An Inspiring Quote
I received email recently from one of my high school classmates. While we haven’t seen each other since high school, we reconnected last year through Facebook. She’s been in a 12-step program for many years and commented about the importance of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as her higher power.… Read More »Mary: A Higher Power
Adding a bit of commentary marked by dry humor, the BBC anchor stated today, “The temperatures in parts of the UK are lower than at the North Pole.” While that’s a potent image for England known for its mild, wet winters, found more humor in the irony that because of… Read More »The Big Chill and Environmental Spirituality
I’m sometimes asked about my belief in God. It’s difficult to respond to questions about how or why I believe in a life-creating and life-sustaining presence which somehow is greater than my imagination. I can’t prove the existence of God – nor do I particularly want to. My faith is… Read More »My Belief in God
