Here are the latest additions to the non-blog portion of this website:
Enjoy!
| 0 commentsAs a general rule, I would say that human beings never behave more badly toward one another than when they believe they are protecting God. In the words of Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas, “People of the Book risk putting the book above people.”
— Barbara Brown Taylor, Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith
| 0 commentsThe Celtic Way of Seeing: Meditations on the Irish Spirit Wheel
By Frank MacEowen
Novato, CA: New World Library, 2007
Review by Carl McColman
As I hinted a few days ago, I’ve really rather wandered away from the world of Celtic wisdom since becoming so engrossed in ancient Christian mysticism, Benedictine spirituality, and the postmodern emerging church movement. Indeed, I hadn’t even read a Celtic-themed book in months, when I picked up Frank MacEowen’s latest book, The Celtic Way of Seeing. But I’m glad I did pick this one up; it gives me hope that there is still much that the non-sectarian representatives of Celtic spirituality can offer us. Indeed, MacEowen himself is a wonderful example of Celtic spirituality expressed in a trans-religious manner: he brings the mindfulness of a Buddhist and the nature-sensitivities of Native American wisdom to his exploration of Irish myth, and thankfully, this syncretistic mix pays off. As a lifetime student of indigenous wisdom and earth-based healing practices, MacEowen naturally gravitates to the Celtic seer tradition; in this book, he avoids spiritual trendiness by simply recounting a traditional story while providing rich, layered, reflective prose in which his reflections on the inner meaning of the old tale becomes an invitation for his readers to embark on a similar journey of inner discovery.
Read More» | 0 commentsThe Phoenix Affirmations: A New Vision for the Future of Christianity
By Eric Elnes
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006
Review by Carl McColman
Eric Elnes is a UCC minister and activist based in Arizona; he was instrumental in writing the list of twelve declarations for the future of the Christian faith known as the Phoenix Affirmations, both for the town in which they were crafted as well as the mythical symbolism of the fiery bird that is resurrected from its own pyre. This document calls the Christian community to a more self-conscious and intentional commitment to love as the foundation and cornerstone of the faith, with twelve points spelling out how love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self comprise the Christian life (you can read the current version of the Phoenix Affirmations online here). The Phoenix Affirmations are being promulgated particularly by Crosswalk America, an organization that bills itself as “where Christian compassion meets progressive action.” Meanwhile, this slender book offers an overview of the affirmations and the rationale behind them.
Will the state of Georgia execute an innocent man? Thanks to draconian death penalty laws passed when Newt Gingrich was Speaker of the House, it looks like the answer to this question could be yes. Read about Troy Davis who is scheduled to be executed on Monday, despite new evidence that suggests he’s innocent. Here is yet another example of why the death penalty remains inconsistent with Christian values.
Please pray for Mr. Davis, for the family members of the police officer killed in 1989, and for all those who now have to weigh the new evidence in Davis’ favor versus a system that makes it difficult if not impossible for a man like him to make one final appeal.
| 0 commentsToday was the final day of the International Christian Retail Show, held this year in Atlanta. I attended all four days of the trade show; made all sorts of contacts for the Abbey Store and a few personal contacts (to promote my writing and/or this blog) and, best of all, made some new friends.
Read More» | 0 commentsOkay, I’ve had a MySpace page for a year or so now, but I’ve finally gotten around to sweeping the floor and decorating the walls and making it presentable. So please go take a look (and if you have a MySpace page of your own, I do hope you’ll send me an add request).
I’ve also been amused by the whimsical way in which MySpace users create pages for their favorite saints and celebrities. I was most unhappy to find that no such page existed for Julian of Norwich. So I rectified the situation!
Incidentally, the layout I’m using (as of this posting) is adapted from a wondeful one created by Mike Industries.
Have fun…
| 0 commentsOkay, I’ve had a MySpace page for a year or so now, but I’ve finally gotten around to sweeping the floor and decorating the walls and making it presentable. So please go take a look (and if you have a MySpace page of your own, I do hope you’ll send me an add request).
I’ve also been amused by the whimsical way in which MySpace users create pages for their favorite saints and celebrities. I was most unhappy to find that no such page existed for Julian of Norwich. So I rectified the situation!
Incidentally, the layout I’m using (as of this posting) is adapted from a wondeful one created by Mike Industries.
Have fun…
| 0 commentsSo over the past two years I’ve put so much energy into contemplative spirituality, from trying to wrap my mind around the ancient Orthodox teachings on theosis or deification, to exploring my own deep interior silence as a Lay Cistercian, to reflecting on how Ken Wilber’s integral theory (primarily grounded in Buddhism) can make sense within a mystical Christian context. It’s all loads of fun (yeah, I know, I’m a geek) and for the most part keeps me out of trouble.
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This week I’m attending the International Christian Retail Show here in Atlanta. Today I was most happy to learn that a company named Christian Audio has (or will soon be) releasing a number of the writings of great mystics on audio CD, including:
I think I’ve just found a way to make my 22-mile commute much more bearable.
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