I came of age when academics were officially pronouncing (again) the death of God—as a viable and energizing concept in the modern world—and people in the churches I went to knew that was hogwash.
Read MoreIn this season of (political) compromise—or rather lack thereof—I find myself thinking about the word. Its root meaning is “promise together” and originated in the practice of agreeing in a dispute to accept the ruling of an arbitrator.
Read MoreI am entering the funeral season of my life. Two weeks ago I saw two movies in the same week. Last week it was two funerals. Sixty-three myself, the generation above me is starting to die with regularity, and some of the early goers of my generation are beginning to leave.
Read MoreI participated in a three-day silent retreat at a Jesuit retreat house recently. One useful thing I noted—it is impossible to be impressive at a silent retreat.
Read MoreI am just returned from a trip to my home town (Santa Barbara, CA), to participate in a memorial gathering for a great friend, Gordon Morez. His son, Larry, asked me to read the following poem by Mary Oliver, which succinctly captures a man who went through life bug-eyed at all its wonders.
Read MoreIf you want a yin-yang, run-the-spectrum experience, try seeing the following two films in the same week, as I did: Transformers (Dark of the Moon) and The Tree of Life. My thirteen-year-old grand nephew was in town and the latest film adaption of what started as a toy was exactly his cup of tea.
Read MoreThe are millions of skeptics in the world. And billions of believers. But how many skeptical believers (or faithful skeptics)?
Read More“Those who believe in God but without passion in their hearts, without anguish in mind, without uncertainty,without doubt, without an element of despair even in the consolation, believe only in the God idea, not God himself.” Unamuno
Read MoreFor a lot of reasons, our culture no longer believes in wisdom. Wisdom is practical knowledge about how to live well in the world: right priorities–and right actions based on those priorities.
Read MoreHere are some musings for the 4th of July regarding Christians and patriotism. In keeping with the Neither/Nor theme of this blog, I find myself refusing two popular notions of patriotism.
Read More
I love this image of the whalers sitting in their frail craft above the looming Moby Dick, perhaps oblivious to his presence, perhaps sensing it but unsure, perhaps knowing exactly what is below them.
Read MoreI am in search of a high-minded rationale for launching yet another blog, given the more than adequate supply of such things that society currently enjoys. But upon further review, to quote football referees, I will instead simply describe what I’m up to.
Read More