Tag Archives: Sin
Healing Addiction
Western Christianity Healing Addiction Thursday, September 20, 2018 I’ve shared some of Western Christianity’s weaknesses—for example, how we have over-emphasized separateness, sin, and external religious exercises. But Western Christianity has unique gifts and strengths to offer. The dynamism of Western civilization has led to what I might call the “secularization” of the Gospel message into… Continue Reading Healing Addiction
The Soul’s Objective Union with God
Western Christianity The Soul’s Objective Union with God Wednesday, September 19, 2018 The Genesis story of the Judeo-Christian tradition is really quite extraordinary. It says that we were created in the very “image and likeness” of God, proceeding from free and overflowing love (Genesis 1:26). This flow is rediscovered and re-experienced by various imperfect people… Continue Reading The Soul’s Objective Union with God
Radical Politics
Politics: Week 1 Radical Politics Thursday, July 12, 2018 There is a lot of talk today about “radical” politics on both sides. The politicians and party on the far side often look “extreme” and so the very word “radical” now has a somewhat negative connotation. “Radical” just comes from the Latin word radix, meaning “root.” For… Continue Reading Radical Politics
Roots of Liberation
Economy: Week 1 Roots of Liberation Sunday, June 24, 2018 One of the great themes of the Bible, beginning with the Hebrew Scriptures and continued by Jesus and Paul, is “the preferential option for the poor.” I call it “the bias toward the bottom.” The Hebrew people’s exodus out of slavery, and YHWH’s complete identification… Continue Reading Roots of Liberation
Restorative Justice
Justice: Week 1 Restorative Justice Tuesday, June 12, 2018 Almost all religion and cultures that I know of have believed in one way or another that sin and evil are to be punished and that retribution is to be demanded of the sinner in this world—and usually the next world, too. Such retributive justice is a dualistic… Continue Reading Restorative Justice
Made for Love
Relationships Made for Love Monday, April 30, 2018 It is an entirely relational universe. If, at any time, we try to stop this life flow moving through us, with us, and in us, we fall into the true state of sin (and it is much more a state than a momentary behavior). What we call… Continue Reading Made for Love
Jesus of Nazareth: Week 2 Summary
Jesus of Nazareth: Week 2 Summary: Sunday, January 21-Friday, January 26, 2018 Jesus did not come to change the mind of God about humanity (it did not need changing)! Jesus came to change the mind of humanity about God. (Sunday) God leads people beyond the idea of a bilateral contract in which we must earn,… Continue Reading Jesus of Nazareth: Week 2 Summary
How Can Everything Be Sacred?
Introduction: Image and Likeness How Can Everything Be Sacred? Tuesday, January 2, 2018 The three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) teach that one Creator formed all things. There is thus a radical unity at the heart of the universe’s pluriformity, resolving any conflict between diversity and the shared “divine DNA” found in creation. This theo-logic allows… Continue Reading How Can Everything Be Sacred?
The Inevitable Spiral of Violence
Nonviolence The Inevitable Spiral of Violence Tuesday, September 19, 2017 Dom Hélder Câmara (1909-1999) was a Brazilian archbishop and brilliant nonviolent activist who offered a model for understanding how structural injustice leads to greater violence. [1] I overlay Dom Hélder’s teaching on the “spiral of violence” with traditional Catholic moral teaching which saw the three… Continue Reading The Inevitable Spiral of Violence
Two Kinds of Darkness
Hope in the Darkness Two Kinds of Darkness Tuesday, September 5, 2017 Darkness is a good and necessary teacher. It is not to be avoided, denied, run from, or explained away. First, like Ezekiel the prophet, we must eat the scroll that is “lamentation, wailing, and moaning” in our belly, and only eventually becomes sweet… Continue Reading Two Kinds of Darkness
