Showing posts with label spiritual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiritual. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Introduce yourself to The Great Cosmic Happy Ass Card Company
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Blasphemy Incorporated
All opinions expressed herein by the author are offered without undue depths of rancor, malice, irony, or satire; only reasonably-balanced depths are intended. I name names and offer opinions but, any errors of fact are unintentional and sincerely regretted.
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| Rubber Ducky Jesus Nativity |
Today, I received several items in the mail, including a magazine subscription offer and a specialty mail order catalog. Both traded on themes of religion — especially Christianity. You have to believe that neither company felt any need of remorse for their marketing choices. At first I was tempted to simply discard the pieces as simple junk mail. However, considered together, they gave me cause to think about the nature of commercialism, American values, and blasphemy.
The first item was an advertisement for “sinful savings” on subscriptions to Free Inquiry magazine (oriented toward the scientific examination of religion). I have a reputation for thinking (and writing) about such controversial subjects and wasn’t surprised to be targeted by their mailing list. The envelop featured red blood splatters and the message, “Blasphemous! Look inside at your own eternal peril.” They enclosed a “Special Introductory Offer - For Blasphemers Only.” Also, “Your salvation isn’t guaranteed… but your satisfaction with Free Inquiry is!” Their come-on letter starts,
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Essay: Is self-denial good for you?
Information and comments on the essay:
Is self-denial good for you?
From the book: Chum for Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters by David Satterlee
Find out more, including where to buy books and ebooks
Read or download this essay as a PDF file at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4eNv8KtePyKNG1fWXZETTNDR00/edit?usp=sharing#Hindu #Buddhist #Saints
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| Chum For Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters |
Is self-denial good for you?
Asceticism is the voluntary and deliberate self-denial of
personal comforts and possessions. It is usually undertaken to distance oneself
from the distractions of material or interpersonal responsibilities. This is
often with the explicit purpose of devoting time and attention to
transcendental spiritual pursuits.
Asceticism is relatively common among the most devout
adherents of many religions. Mormon missionaries temporarily defer marriage,
career, and family associations for at least two years during their missions.
Missionaries of other religions, usually live according to the impoverished
standards of the community to which they are sent.
Religions with special orders of devotion may distinguish
individuals who take vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. They may live
cloistered lives of isolation or give exclusive attention to assigned duties.
Volunteer workers at the branch offices of Jehovah’s Witnesses take such vows
as do many priests, monks, and nuns.
Individuals such as Hindu and Jain ascetics usually have
reached a point of spiritual development that
Essay: How faith grows in stages – James Fowler
Information and comments on the essay:
How faith grows in stages – James Fowler
From the book: Chum for Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters by David Satterlee
Find out more, including where to buy books and ebooks
Read or download this essay as a PDF file at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4eNv8KtePyKNGo1aldtWFphd00/edit?usp=sharing
How #faith grows in stages – James #Fowler - #Spiritual #Development
Read by the author:
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| Chum For Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters |
How faith grows in stages – James Fowler
It should not be surprising, in our scientific, technological world, that faith has been subjected to empirical studies and analysis. Hold onto your hat: it turns out that both people and communities of faith develop through a predictable series of stages… or find a comfortable level and stay there.
James W. Fowler, a minister in the United Methodist Church, wrote “Stages of Faith” in 1981 while a professor of Theology and Human Development at Emory University. Additional research has followed. Here is a summary of the results.
Preschool children often confuse fantasy and reality. Their mix of ideas are picked-up, but not fully-developed, from those around them. They may believe in God and the Tooth Fairy, but already know that the guy at the mall is not really Santa.
School-age children begin to use logic and take things very literally. They may strongly and stubbornly hold onto ideas that come from trusted authorities. Their parents may still be insisting on the details of
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