I’ve had more than one person come to me in the last few months and ask why is it if I’m supposed to be (at least by Unitarian Universalist standards) a spiritual person, why are so many of my sermons and projects focused on social justice issues? It is true my natural inclinations are contemplative. My fantasy retirement is running nearly continuous sesshin, intensive Zen meditation retreats. But actually one reason I’ve followed my nose into the liberal ministry is... Read more

Shamelessly stolen from the wonderful Enlightenment Ward. Some are good, some are bad, some, eh; but you’re going to have to figure out which is which for yourself. (Although, I have heard the Monkey Mind on the list is a real blowhard. You probably can safely skip him…) A Hoodie Monk A Monk Amok a raft abisko Aloha Sangha AMIDA-JI RETREAT TEMPLE ROMANIA Ashin Mettacara Bhikkhu Bhikkhu’s Blog Bodhi Tree Swaying Chán Poetry Clear Mind Zen Dhamma Diary dhamma musings... Read more

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On this day in 1947 Jackie Robinson took the field with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Thank you, Mr Robinson… Read more

And when we forget, we need someone to remind us. I’ve been grumpy & forgetful of such. Thanks to all who pointed me in this direction… Read more

Human Rights Campaign Clergy Call 2009 Read more

The Society for the Relief of free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, the first American organization dedicted to abolition was formed on this day in 1775 in Philadelphia. Among its organizers were Benjamin Rush and Benjamin Franklin, who would eventually become its president. I think about how long it would take to address the most glaring aspect of what is justly called our American original sin and end it in law. I think of how despite his greatness in so... Read more

for all your faults, and my god there are a lot of ’em, between you and John Adams we got a republic. Read more

THE FAITH AND THE LOVE AND THE HOPE ARE ALL IN THE WAITING Passover, Easter & the Rites of Eternal Return A Sermon byJames Ishmael Ford 12 April 2009First Unitarian ChurchProvidence, Rhode Island Text I said to my soul, be still, and let the dark come upon you Which shall be the darkness of God.As, in a theatre, The lights are extinguished, for the scene to be changed With a hollow rumble of wings, with a movement of darkness on... Read more

This year today is Holy Saturday. And on this day, today, in 1945 Buchenwald was liberated. If ever there were a commentary on the death of God, Edward R Murrow gave it here… The person who put the video clip up at Youtube asks rhetorically how this compares with objective reporting today. I’m not sure what that individual means, but it appears to be some snarky assertion that somehow today you can’t get such reporting. Consummate b.s., of course. But,... Read more