Mindfulness. Meditation. Stillness. Say these words in a room full of Christians and the reactions are not likely to be (a) warm, (b) fuzzy, or (c) welcoming. To many Christians—tolerant mainline Protestant Christians even— these words inch awfully close to the line. What line? You know the line. The line between what’s Christian and what…
Category Archives: Buddhism
Anne Lamott: Me Too, Anne, Me Too
You know, how when you’re in the presence of a truly “awake” person, someone who really gets life, you feel very calm and safe? Its as if your heart slows down just a little and your hands warm. That’s what I felt like last night when I went to hear Anne Lamott talk about her…
Bombs and Butterflies
I’ve tried on a few religions in my day. And from each, I have kept something, a golden thread of truth, a piece of the divine, and woven it into my spirit. One of Buddhism’s greatest illuminations is the reality of interconnectedness—the idea that all of humanity is interconnected, that we, each of us, is…
Dualism and the Descartesian Other
While I’m talking about what I believe, I should probably point out where I disagree with much of Post-Enlightenment Christianity– if I’m going to be intellectually honest, which is the whole point of this blog. It’s also where I part ways with Paul Tillich, bless his heart. Descartes Gets it Wrong First some background. Rene…
A Survivor’s Tale
Many of you who read my blog knew me before I was broken. Some of you met me after. But precious few of you knew during the madness. With the exception of my immediate family, some co-workers, and one stalwart friend from college, if you knew me before, you did not know me during, because…
But I Don’t Want to Raise a Perfect Son. I Want to Raise My Son!
It starts the instant you see two pink lines, or a plus sign, or however you learn you’re carrying the Hope of the Free World; and I haven’t yet figured out when it stops. It has always been around in some form or another, but now its institutionalized,big business. It doesn’t just come from your…
Monkey Brain
That’s what the Buddhists call it. I don’t know what us Christians call it. I don’t think we have a name for it exactly, but we sure as shit have it, at least I think we, do. We do don’t we? Or am I the only one? Oh God, what if I’m the only one?…
