Tag Archives: Sin
Stinking Thinking
Spirituality and Addiction Stinking Thinking Monday, November 15, 2021 I do not understand my own behavior. I fail to carry out the very things I want to do, and find myself doing the very things I hate. . . . For although the will to do what is good is in me, the performance is… Continue Reading Stinking Thinking
The Shadow of Original Sin
Original Goodness The Shadow of Original Sin Monday, October 25, 2021 Fr. Richard reflects on the negative consequences of Christianity’s emphasis on “original sin.” The truth of our Original Goodness was sadly complicated when the concept of original sin entered the Christian mind. This idea was put forth by Augustine in the fifth century but… Continue Reading The Shadow of Original Sin
The Power of Money
What Do We Do With Money? The Power of Money Tuesday, September 21, 2021 In 2019, Richard wrote a short book entitled What Do We Do with Evil? In it, he explored the apostle Paul’s teachings on “the world, the flesh, and the devil,” to clarify the often invisible, systemic, and hidden nature of evil,… Continue Reading The Power of Money
Participatory Morality
Life as Participation Participatory Morality Thursday, September 9, 2021 Jesus’ message of “full and final participation” was periodically enjoyed and taught by many unknown saints and mystics. It must be admitted, though, that the vast majority of Christians made Christianity into a set of morals and rituals instead of an all-embracing mysticism of the present moment.… Continue Reading Participatory Morality
Embracing Shadow and Light
Shadow Work Embracing Shadow and Light Monday, June 14, 2021 We all identify with our persona/mask so strongly when we are young that we become masters of denial and learn to eliminate or hide anything that doesn’t support it. Neither our persona nor our shadow is evil in itself; they just allow us to do… Continue Reading Embracing Shadow and Light
The Scapegoat Mechanism
Scapegoating and the Cross The Scapegoat Mechanism Sunday, March 28, 2021 Palm Sunday Human nature, when it is seeking power, wants either to play the victim or to create victims of others. In fact, the second follows from the first. Once we start feeling sorry for ourselves, we will soon find someone else to blame,… Continue Reading The Scapegoat Mechanism
Corporate Evil and Corporate Good
What Do We Do with Evil? Corporate Evil and Corporate Good Friday, October 16, 2020 Both Jesus and Paul radically reframe the human situation and invite us to live a vulnerable human life in communal solidarity with both sin and salvation. Neither sin nor salvation could ever be exclusively mine, but both of them are… Continue Reading Corporate Evil and Corporate Good
An Agreed-upon Delusion
What Do We Do with Evil? An Agreed-upon Delusion Tuesday, October 13, 2020 The world (or “system” as we use the word now) is a hiding place for unconsciousness or “deadness” in the words of Paul. Both Thomas Aquinas and C. S. Lewis taught that the triumph of evil depends entirely on disguise. [1] [2]… Continue Reading An Agreed-upon Delusion
A Negative Matrix
What Do We Do with Evil? A Negative Matrix Monday, October 12, 2020 One reason we lost interest in the concept of sin is because we usually heard it being used to judge, shame, exclude, or control others or ourselves. Seldom was the concept of sin used to bring discernment or deeper understanding, much less… Continue Reading A Negative Matrix
The Nature of Evil
What Do We Do with Evil? The Nature of Evil Sunday, October 11, 2020 Over the years, it has become increasingly clear to me that we are confused about the nature of evil. We don’t seem to understand what evil is, how it operates, or what we can do, personally or collectively, to reduce its… Continue Reading The Nature of Evil