Jeff Rafael, The School of Athens Here are a few highlights from the history of philosophy showing an interesting variety of views regarding spiritual experience. Heraclitus around 500 BCE wrote that the god [daimon, indwelling divine spirit] is home [ethos] for a human being. Then Parmenides around 475 BCE, wrote a poem narrating a mystical experience … Read more
What’s the evidence that religion makes a difference in a person’s level of altruism? Pretty slim, depending how religion is defined. People who go through the motions of being religious but are basically motivated by self-interest . . . well, what do you think? Right. No difference between external religion and no religion at all … Read more
There is a custom of making a New Year’s resolution, for example: This year I will get organized. These resolutions are notoriously impotent. By contrast, a decision launches an action or a course of action: Today I will spend an hour organizing my work space. If this is to count as a decision in the … Read more
Aristotle (computer graphic) After the heartening response to the Christmas blogpost, it would feel like a betrayal to return here to business as usual. I offer a few observations and reflections on friendship, dedicated to you who responded so generously to that previous message. I love birthdays, including Christmas, because they celebrate you not … Read more
Wise men still seek him–and find him. Beloveds, (This is a short form for my mantra: You are a divinely created, infinitely loved, spiritually indwelt, evolutionary, free-will, son or daughter of God!) Christmas—for so many of us, a holiday brimming with meaning and value. It is also a great time for family and friends to … Read more
Christians sometimes wonder, debate, and pray about the salvation of non-Christians. An answer to this question by Wilfred Cantwell Smith was that if it takes faith to be saved, then those are saved whose central affirmation is, “I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the dharma (teaching). I take refuge in the … Read more
A friend of mine reported hearing once unmistakably from God. She had debated intensely and at length between two passions: to pursue a career in opera or to go to seminary and then into the ministry. Exhausted by the struggle, she heard, “It doesn’t make any difference.” We have heard about Buridan’s ass, the … Read more
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) 1909 When perspectives clash, we do well to keep three dimensions in mind: affirming our common humanity, trying to understand our differences, and cherishing the unique personality of every individual. To disparage the notion of a common humanity (since it is so differently conceived from one culture to another) and to overlook … Read more
During the solitude of the morning came a moment of abject humiliation. It was ugly, but it revealed a new depth of need for personal growth—an opportunity not to pass up. So I prayed for help and sought to learn whatever I could. The line that came to mind was, “Be you perfect.” For the … Read more