If, as I believe, there is a being that is infinite and powerful beyond our ability to understand – if there is a God – then I can’t believe God would want mindless worship, even if it is overwrought with emotion. It seems to me that God would want mindful, thoughtful, and earnest searching and the respectful and positive worship that naturally flows from it.
Michael Gerson has an op-ed at the Washington Post that tries to find a way to hold religion accountable for political influence. It’s a good idea, and I think he has some good take-away lines (like: “This use of religion in politics is a source of cynicism. It should raise alarms when the views of [...]
Today is Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday, set aside during the lead up to Easter for remembrance of Jesus’ new commandment: “Love each other as I have loved you,” he is reported to say. Then he went out and committed suicide. We don’t normally think of Jesus’ death in that manner. But I think it [...]
I never understood Mardi Gras. How is acting stupid and getting drunk any preparation for Lent? Source bifurcated reading: 3″The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect (A)peace, Because he trusts in You. For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and (A)rest you will be saved, In [...]
Source Reading from Deuteronomy: For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. 7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you [...]
Just barely getting in under the wire to say this is Ash Wednesday. I’ve been feeling particularly distant from my faith for a number of reasons. So I’m starting today to willfully move back towards it. Meditations Prayer: O Lord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in [...]
Debra Haffner, whom I deeply respect and admire, has written a thoughtful piece at WaPo’s “On Faith” section. The meaty section of it reads: More than 30 years ago, many religious denominations courageously passed resolutions in support of women’s moral agency and their right to a safe and legal abortion. Despite numerous legal challenges and [...]
For those of you who don’t share my religious views, this post will be largely academic for you. But I hope that those who do share my religious views will take a moment to seriously consider the points I intend to raise. I grew up in a very conservative Christian household. We not only went [...]
From The Christian Science Monitor: In that nonsensical statement lies this little country’s big challenge. Swiss voters appear to have been caught up in the general European fear – some real, some imagined, and some manufactured – of Islamic extremism and culture clash. What makes this particularly tough for the Swiss government, which opposed the [...]
I’m proud to say that the Episcopal Bishop of Newark is unequivocally in favor of marriage equality. He has some interesting things to say about “traditional marriage”: But a closer look shows that the historical tradition of marriage is that of a contract between two men: the groom and the father of the bride. When [...]
