So there's a train of thought I've been pondering for a few days which grew out of a random thought about Greek prepositions and their translation in 1 Corinthians 8:6. It basically goes like this
1. 1st century Jewish monotheism is distinctly non-metaphysical, being exemplified by all sorts of...
There is a series of interviews with philosophers of religion on the generally interesting blog http://prosblogion.ektopos.com, and given the intersection between philosophy and religion, they seemed like they might be of interest to others.
The latest interview, and links to the previous ones...
So I've been thinking about starting a meditation routine. I'm not especially into some of the relaxation-ish very non-religious guided meditations I've seen on youtube, but I'm not quite sure where I'd want to begin. Tips on methods and practical advice, or how to get started would be...
I think there are a whole host of topics that sort of vaguely connect to the title of this thread. About individualism and collectivism, morality, finding "purpose" in life, and so on.
I assume that everyone is aware, in their own life, of tension that arises sometimes between one's own...
I saw this clip from the Daily Show about media reactions to Bruce Jenner's transition to Caitlyn Jenner, and thought the point being made about our culture's treatment of women was especially sharp and well made. I thought it might be of interest.
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers is a collection of aphorisms from Christian ascetics who fled to the deserts of Egypt in the 4th century, and whose way of life became, more or less, the source of inspiration for Christian monasticism in general. When I first became Christian, I fell in love...
This isn't going to be a really coherent OP, so lets just get that out of the way. In RF chat the other day, there was a short conversation, out of which came a couple questions (which I'm rephrasing, apologies to their originator) which might be interesting to talk about, or might require a lot...
Radio RF is the new sensation that's sweeping the nation (see the Discussion thread). The Radio RF show is hosted by Iti oj and DreadFish from RF, includes guests from the forums, interviews, and various topics. It airs Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30pm eastern time in the US. Check it out!
I'm...
In a particular translation of Chapter 9, 4-5, I found this:
4. By me, by my manifested form all this world is pervaded. All beings subsist in me, but I do not subsist in them.
5. Yet beings subsist not in me. Consider my sacred mystery. My Self is the source and support of all beings, yet...
From Mysticism and Spirituality, Vol 1: Mysticism, Fullness of Life.
I had wanted to make a thread on these before because I thought they might provoke discussion and I love them, but I ended up trying to explain all of them and it was getting really long and I ditched the effort. Instead, this...
I will be arguing for the proposition that knowledge of a "spiritual" dimension distinct from the "material" is real and irreducible to knowledge of the material universe.
Red Economist will argue that this is wrong and there are ultimately no "spiritual" truths.
Are there parallels between them?
Note: I expect a comparison to possibly offend both sides, but I find both Hindu and Christian expressions of the Divine to be beautiful (allowing for my perhaps idiosyncratic and incomplete understanding of both, but especially of Hindu beliefs), so I mean the...
I'm framing this in a Christian way, since I experience it mostly as a Christian issue, but other perspectives are welcome.
The idea of "holiness" as separation from sinful people or from sin in some way owes mainly to Leviticus: "You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have...
"Deism is knowledge of God based on the application of our reason on the designs/laws found throughout Nature. The designs presuppose a Designer. Deism is therefore a natural religion and is not a ‘revealed’ religion." (Deism defined -- deism.com)
When I read "natural religion" I think of...
In Christianity, it was said by Jesus to be a precondition of having any vision of God, in the beatitudes, and in Christian practice it is brought about by prayer and contemplation, fasting, acts of mercy, humility, self-emptying and dispassion. "If your eye is single (clear; unfolded) then your...
I've been on a bit of a "Divinity of Jesus" kick lately, and after spending several days writing about the doctrine of the trinity in eastern Christianity, I was going back over N.T. Wright's Paul and the Faithfulness of God a bit because I think the arguments he cites for an early high...
in the end only love will remain
neither ozymandias' footprints
nor even faith and hope
all these reasons
all these stories
all these failing words
are passing away
Purpose of this thread
There have been a lot of threads about trinity, several of which are ongoing, so you might ask why another one? My opinion is that the trinitarian doctrine is often poorly understood, and in part that's due to the way its normally presented, abstracted away from both the...
The flood of Christ’s mysteries
presses upon my mind
like the waves of the sea.
I wanted to be silent before them, and not speak
but they proved to be like burning fire
kindled in my bones.
My mind rebukes me, revealing my sins.
Your mystery stupefies me,
but urges me on beyond it:
In silence it...
I almost want to say "asceticism" rather than "monasticism" to avoid focusing on on any particular form, since there are differences in practice between different monastic orders at different times. So by "monasticism" I mean the ascetic efforts made by Christians that are intended to bring one...