I’ve never been very passionate about evolution. 10th grade biology plus some extra-curricular science reading convinced me it was an accurate explanation for the development of life. That allowed me to check that box on my “things I need to know” list and move onto other subjects I found more engaging. But over the past couple years I’ve found myself delving into evolution more and more frequently, and referring to it more and more often in my religious-themed writings. I... Read more

David Sparks of Temple Spiritualis Compassare and John Beckett of Denton CUUPS Last night I had the honor of participating in Together in Faith, a 9/11 Service of Remembrance and Hope held at the First United Methodist Church of Denton.  I was one of the “faith group representatives” who spoke on the theme “I believe” – what our religions teach that can help us all to live together in peace. When Rev. Pam Wat of DUUF asked me to represent... Read more

Caring for our elders is the collective responsibility of society, not an individual responsibility. While I try to stay informed, I do what I can to stick to the news and avoid political commentary – it just gets my blood pressure up. But every now and then something slips through my filters and raises said blood pressure to the point where I have to say something. This is one of those times. I’ve had it with Rick Perry and Rush... Read more

I’m coming in late on the most recent flare-up about the “Spiritual But Not Religious,” but some of you may not have seen it, and in any case I have a few things I want to discuss. This episode began when this essay by Rev. Lillian Daniel of the United Church of Christ was published in The Christian Century, a long-running magazine for mainline Protestants.  It’s titled “The Limits of Self-Made Religion” and it was inspired by someone who cornered... Read more

I just finished listening to the new Wigglian Way podcast.  The Wigglian Way is one of the longest running Pagan podcasts – now in its 6th year, with 87 episodes.  It’s one of only a few I’m subscribed to – while it’s light-hearted and humorous, it has plenty of good content and very little of the “morning drive radio” silliness I hear on too many podcasts.  This episode included host MoJo’s commentary on the archetype of The King, taken from... Read more

I’ve got a new piece up on No Unsacred Place about the proposed pipeline to bring oil from the Alberta tar sands to Gulf Coast refineries.  It’s an ugly project that I oppose, but the situation is complex and deserves some explanation and some thought. Go read it, and while you’re there check out some of the other writers’ work. tar sands extraction in Alberta, Canada.  /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; mso-padding-alt:0in... Read more

There will be an interfaith service of peace and hope on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at 6:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church of Denton.  I’m very happy the Denton County ministers who organized it (including DUUF’s Rev. Pam Wat) reached out to include as many faith groups as possible – including Pagans.  I’ll be speaking (very briefly) on behalf of Denton CUUPS, and David Sparks will participate as a representative of Temple Spiritualis Compassare. Additionally,... Read more

I had an interesting conversation (if a couple of comments in a blog can be considered “conversation”) with Alison Lilly in regards to her most recent Dining With Druids podcast. Episode 9 is titled “Holy Personal Gnosis, Batman!” – Ali and her husband-to-be Jeff discussed what is sometimes called “Unverified Personal Gnosis” or UPG. UPG is first-hand religious experience. It’s what happens when a goddess or god speaks to you. It’s what happens when a Pentecostal Christian is “filled with... Read more

The Book of Druidry is a classic text by Ross Nichols (1902 – 1975), the founder of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. The book was written in segments by Nichols over the course of his life. He finished it just before he died, but the manuscript was thought to be lost until 1984 when current OBOD Chosen Chief Philip Carr-Gomm collected the pieces and had it published. In the forward, Philip Carr-Gomm says that in The Book of... Read more