“America today begins to turn back to God,” said Glenn Beck. It made me shudder.
In Matthew chapter 19 in the Bible, it’s recorded that a young man who was very rich once asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “…if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Summer is a bit of a down time for me as a Unitarian Universalist minister. I take time of for study and reflection, and for vacation. So instead of my usual columns, I would like to share some of my poetry with you.
We tend to think of generosity primarily in terms of the willingness to give money or material possessions. But actually, in Jewish tradition, financial giving to support the community as well as those less fortunate is considered an obligation, not an expression of generosity.
Graffiti artist is starting over after a stint in jail, and now he has message for young people.
In ancient Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the violent and duplicitous son of the King of Thessaly. For his sins (especially his habitual deceitfulness), the gods sentenced him to unending punishment: He was compelled to push a large stone up a hill, only to see it roll back down. This up-down cycle continued without interruption throughout eternity.
Life purpose, unconditional love - it’s all been said before. But when a four-legged animal speaks, new insights are startling. “A Dog’s Purpose: A Novel for Humans,” by W. Bruce Cameron is an irresistible lesson in how to transform one’s heart energy from survival to service from the perspective of (wo)man’s best friend.
Weekly religion rail, with surveys on the president's religion, his remarks on the building of an Islamic center in New York City and more.
A friend sent me a recent New York Times op-ed column by David Brooks titled, “The Summoned Self.” In it Brooks compares two ways to approach life. He refers to them as the Well-Planned Life and the Summoned Life.
According to the Jewish calendar, the new year of 5771 begins at sunset Sept. 8. Known as Rosh Hashana, it’s a day of celebration and renewal. Before the fate of the upcoming year is sealed, however, Jews undertake 10 days of repentance that culminate with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
Rabbi Michael Paley, the United Jewish Association Federation’s scholar in residence, answers some questions about these all-important Jewish holidays:
This is the third in a series of columns about three core spiritual and emotional wounds – wounds to our sense of self, to our relationships with others, and to our relationship with the world. This is an idea I encountered during my ministerial training, and I have found it borne out in my work as a pastor.
Wavy Gravy was, and continues to be, a serious social activist and philanthropist as well as a very funny clown. In his 70s now, he is perhaps best known for his role as m.c. at Woodstock 40 years ago. Many of his impromptu statements back then became enshrined as ’60s slogans. My favorite: “We’re all bozos on this bus, so we might as well sit back and enjoy the ride.”
Weekly religion column, with items on a Jesus portrait project, this week in religion news, a survey about churchgoers and more.
Children love the story of Jonah and the Jonah’s Ocean Adventure activity can help make the story come to life. For this activity you need the following: Bibles, 16-ounce clear plastic soda bottles (or larger), silver glitter, floating and non-floating plastic sea creatures such as fish, star fish, seahorses, etc. that can fit into the bottle, plastic grass which is available at pet and aquarium stores, a funnel, blue or green food coloring, glue and water
In the Jewish mystical understanding of human nature (humans being a microcosm of the cosmos as a whole), there is a dynamic tension between the forces of “lovingkindness” and strict judgment. Chesed is the Hebrew word for “lovingkindness.” Gevurah is strict judgment.
Kathy Howard brought her two daughters, Sydney Long and Gracie Howard to Duenweg to see a piece of history.
The tide of religious feeling is rising right now, even among people who are not particularly religious.
In life, we “take off” on our own – projects, relationships, or daily plans – without a nod to God, but then we turn to the divine for a safe landing when things go wrong. Yet even the worst experiences can be turned to good, according to plane crash survivor Josh Adams of Cape Cod.
A study of "proximal intercessory prayer," this week in religion, getting to know Saint Maximilian Kolbe, and more.
Muslims are aware of opposition to a $100 million Islamic center proposed for construction near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, but one Massachusetts imam says his congregation will observe Islam’s holiest season as usual.
