Tag: religion
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Lightness of Being/ Nietzsche’s idea of ‘eternal return’
What if the mistakes we make in the here and now were never going to be made ‘right’ on some dim, distant redemption day?
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La Passione di Roma & the difference between modern and classical art
William James (often referred to as the father of modern psychology) was greatly impressed with what he believed to be the distinction between classical and modern art. In ancient Greek art, he argued, lay the quintessence of all reality. There the artist’s idea runs through all his creation allowing it to lose any amount of…
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The Summer Solstice and the Portal of Mortals
“Today is the summer solstice – the longest day of the year. From here we start the long, slow slog to darkness, which culminates at the winter solstice when the sun does its annual ‘about face’ to again, favour us with its warming rays. As markers of our seasons, the solstices have long been the…
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The Many Faces of God
“God” is a dicey word. Not only is it downright dangerous to use the word “God” at the wrong time or in the wrong place, but even when you do get it right there’s no guarantee the person with whom you’re speaking entertains the same ideas about what you mean by “God” as do you.…
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Whom does the Grail Serve? An Interpretation of the Prologue of the Gospel of John
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines…
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In the Age of Aquarius What Happens to God?
Today, many believe that the Christian God of our forefathers – a god distinct from and superior to man – is dead. Astrology concurs with this conclusion. For a preview of what might come next, read on. For the last 2000 years, we’ve been living in the Age of Pisces – the symbol of which…
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Self, Spirituality, and Zen – Journey of the Ox-Tamer
The concept of ‘self’ is as woolly as that of ‘spirituality’. Yet today’s Western spirituality seeker must come to grips with both because now he’s so psychologically oriented, the ‘self’ is the centre of his ‘spirituality’.[i] While both mystics and psychologically oriented spirituality seekers often speak in terms of ‘transcending the self’, I suggest they…
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Playing God – Religious Experience in the 21st Century
At the turn of the last century, the famous philosopher and scientist William James asserted “….the mother sea and fountain-head of all religions lies in the mystical experience of the individual”. James believed that the key to understanding such experience, was to be found in the manner in which our eyes and minds, together, created…
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The Secret Book of John
Anger and The Secret Book of John Short fiction by Debra Moolenaar © 2010 “Tomorrow I shall have to tell them.” Glancing down at my hands, I wince and stuff my wedding ring in my jean’s pocket. After shuffling across the room, I practice silent arpeggios before the well-stoked fire. A week before Christmas…