I’m a big fan of agnosticism as a spiritual path. But when pushed about the deity question, I generally admit to being a nontheist, which is, I guess, a sort of kinder and gentler atheist. While many of my friends are touched by some version of the argument from design, I personally am inclined to see that as a classic bit of projection. As Xenophanes’ wryly observed a very long time ago, “If cattle and horses and lions had hands…... Read more

Mary Oliver was born on this day in 1935… She is a treasure… Read more

My colleague Andrea Perry Lerner, in her capacity as a friend on Facebook posted this picture: She then offered how she’s going to be alternating optimistic and pessimistic posts, but it will be the reader’s task to figure out which is which… Kind of like life… Read more

I wasn’t watching a lot of television in 1966, so I missed out that day, this day, in that year, when Star Trek made its debut. Later, I would be a fan, if not of the ferocious sort. I’m glad for the humanistic spirituality it advocated. Good stuff. Could use a little more of that, these days, no doubt… Read more

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I think of labor day and I think of what the union movement gave to America. Like the eight hour work day & the five day work week. Like actual safety regulations, often actually enforced. I feel terrible that the union movement has not been swift in adapting to the new conditions, and the increasing irrelevance of the white collar unions in the public sector. I think we’re facing some hard days ahead. And without a revival of the unions... Read more

JESUS WAS A CARPENTER A Sermon on Religion and Politics 5 September 2010 Delivered by James Ishmael Ford At the First Unitarian Church Providence, Rhode Island            Text Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare. Japanese proverb One of my favorite bloggers is the Canadian Buddhist Marnie Louise Froberg. In a recent posting she addressed Glen Beck’s grand rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the 28th of August, which was, of course, the... Read more

One of the most moving scenes in a film that I can think of is where Humphrey Bogart and Paul Henreid walk out of a private meeting into the bar where Conrad Veidt is leading a bunch on Nazis singing Deutchland Uber Alles. The screen pans across the faces of the crowd. For me most notably Claude Rains stone faced witness. That is until, as Henreid walks to the band, I watch Ingrid Bergman’s face. Then Henreid tells the band... Read more

A few days ago I received a note from a friend about a friend of hers who is dealing with chronic pain and wanted my view on suicide, and whether it is a sin. I said that sin is not really a term of art within Unitarian Universalism, nor, particularly, in Buddhism. Of course the question begs a definition of sin that does not include offense against a deity. The Wikipedia article on sin gives a pretty good working examination... Read more

Me, when pressed I can hold still for long periods of time… Read more