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  1. lovemuffin

    Greek influence on Pauline Theology

    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...
  2. lovemuffin

    Philosophers and their religious practices

    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...
  3. lovemuffin

    Recommend some meditation practices for a noob

    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...
  4. lovemuffin

    The balance between ones internal drives and external "law"

    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...
  5. lovemuffin

    Jon Stewart on Caitlyn Jenner and media portrayals of women

    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.
  6. lovemuffin

    Love in the Desert

    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...
  7. lovemuffin

    Destroying your myth; Finding your path?

    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...
  8. lovemuffin

    Radio RF - 5 minute philosophy - segment notes and discussion

    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...
  9. lovemuffin

    Question about a verse in the Bhagavad Gita

    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...
  10. lovemuffin

    Sutras on Mystical Experience

    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...
  11. lovemuffin

    Well Named and Red Economist: Does "spiritual" knowledge exist?

    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.
  12. lovemuffin

    Brahman in Hinduism and Christian Theology

    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...
  13. lovemuffin

    Holiness as separation; Love as inclusion

    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...
  14. lovemuffin

    The value of sacred texts under deism

    "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...
  15. lovemuffin

    Is "purity of heart" a universal religious ideal?

    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...
  16. lovemuffin

    Paul, Jesus' Divinity, and 1st century Jewish monotheism

    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...
  17. lovemuffin

    musings following a memorial service

    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
  18. lovemuffin

    The Trinity in the Eastern Christian Tradition

    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...
  19. lovemuffin

    A prayer of Isaac of Syria

    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...
  20. lovemuffin

    Are protestants right to have rejected monasticism?

    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...
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