Tag Archives: critique
Radical Solidarity
Action and Contemplation: Part Two Radical Solidarity Wednesday, January 15, 2020 A contemplative lens is the only frame through which we can recognize and address the three sources of evil: the world, the flesh, and the devil. When we remain in egoic consciousness, evil (especially in its first hidden forms that look so much like… Continue Reading Radical Solidarity
Dancing Polarities
Action and Contemplation: Part Two Dancing Polarities Monday, January 13, 2020 The words action and contemplation aptly describe the two dancing polarities of our lives. In classic Christian philosophy, Thomas Aquinas and many others stated that the highest form of spiritual maturity is not action or contemplation, but the ability to integrate the two into one life stance—to be service-oriented… Continue Reading Dancing Polarities
Ours to Do
Action and Contemplation: Part Two Ours to Do Sunday, January 12, 2020 I founded the Center for Action and Contemplation more than thirty years ago because I saw a deep need for the integration of both action and contemplation. Over the years, I met many activists who were doing excellent social analysis and advocating for… Continue Reading Ours to Do
Moral Capitalism
Economy: Old and New Moral Capitalism Wednesday, November 27, 2019 I’m afraid that some readers have given up on this week’s meditations by now, convinced that I hate capitalism and money and that I don’t even believe people should get paid for a hard day’s work. That’s just not true! I’m not going to say… Continue Reading Moral Capitalism
Politics: Old and New: Weekly Summary
Politics: Old and New Summary: Sunday, November 17—November 22, 2019 There is no such thing as being non-political. (Sunday) We are called to be “in Christ,” which means we share—always imperfectly, and always in community with others—the call to be the embodiment of God’s love in the world. —Wes Granberg-Michaelson (Monday) Twice a year we… Continue Reading Politics: Old and New: Weekly Summary
Affirm or Critique
Politics: Old and New Affirm or Critique Sunday, November 17, 2019 Politics is one of the most difficult and complex issues on which to engage in polite conversation. For many people, politics and religion are so personal that neither topic is deemed appropriate to discuss publicly. While separation of church and state is an important… Continue Reading Affirm or Critique
A Deeper Tenor
Gender and Sexuality A Deeper Tenor Wednesday, October 23, 2019 My deceased friend Walter Wink (1935–2012), a Methodist minister, biblical scholar, theologian, and nonviolent activist, put religion’s struggles with gender and sexuality into historical perspective as another opportunity for learning Jesus’ way of liberation—of both oppressed and oppressors. Where the Bible mentions [same-sex sexual] behavior… Continue Reading A Deeper Tenor
Inner and Outer Freedom
Franciscan Way: Part Two Inner and Outer Freedom Tuesday, October 8, 2019 Francis and Clare of Assisi were not so much prophets by what they said as by the radical, system-critiquing way that they lived their lives. They found both their inner and outer freedom by structurally living on the edge of the inside of… Continue Reading Inner and Outer Freedom
Nonviolence Works
Nonviolence Nonviolence Works Thursday, August 22, 2019 How is it that many Christians have managed to avoid what Jesus actually taught? We’ve evaded major parts of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): the Beatitudes, Jesus’ warning about idolizing “mammon,” his clear directive and example of nonviolence, and his command to love our enemies. I… Continue Reading Nonviolence Works
Creating Peaceful Change
Nonviolence Creating Peaceful Change Sunday, August 18, 2019 The root of violence is the illusion of separation—from God, from being one with oneself and everything else, and from Being Itself. When we don’t know how to consciously live out of union (which is called love), we resort to violence, fighting anything that is not like… Continue Reading Creating Peaceful Change
