Not my usual territory, but I find it interesting that the pope appears to be moving resolutely to reconciling with the ultra-traditionalist Society of Pius X, apparently lifting the excommunication of its four bishops. This, of course, includes the notorious antisemite and Holocaust denier, Bishop Richard Williamson. What exactly this is supposed to mean, and what outsiders should divine, is not at all clear. But, it does feel creepy… Written a bit later: It turns out the deed has actually... Read more

For ages now I’ve heard complaints from folk within the larger Zen sangha that the enormous Buddhist web portal E-Sangha runs a quiet reign of intolerance enforcing a very narrow view of Buddhist orthodoxy, something many, maybe most actual Zen practitioners who post eventually run afoul of… A Zen teaching colleague blew the whistle on this some time ago. But, while I really admire him, he also has a bit of a mouth and I thought perhaps his penchant for... Read more

In a sense this is a follow up on my previous blog entry, “Every Day is a Good Day,” the teisho by young Agnes. My friend Holly sends me poetry. The following was sent under the heading “This one’s not about death!” Of course, she was trying to trick me. It’s all about death. And all about life. And all about passion. Each thing in its moment, one hundred percent. In our culture we seem to miss one hundred percent.... Read more

Teisho by Agnes Read more

I’m deeply interested in the work of the British psychologist Sue Blackmore. Early in her life she took an interest in parapsychology, and put together a doctoral program in order to study it. By the time she finished her studies she had determined there was so little evidence in support of the major claims of parapsychology that she felt comfortable rejecting the field. She has continued to apply this relentless looking to a number of areas. Along the way she... Read more

Lynn Ungar is to my mind far and away the best poet among the fraternity and sorority of UU ministers. Most of us think if we have a moderately good image and arrange it poem like it’s a poem. Others simply arrange homilies that way. Not so the Reverend Ms Ungar. She sings… Sadly her lovely little book Blessing the Bread is out of print. But every once in a while she writes something new. And here is one! Yo... Read more

Many years ago when I was working in a large bookstore in San Diego, I was offered the opportunity along with a few other booksellers to meet with Maria Rasputin, daughter of the “mad monk.” She’d been making her living writing and then rewriting and issuing anew sanitized biographies of her notorious father. Even though, as someone always interested in the more obscure byways of religion, I really wanted to meet her (I think in catholic terms this would be... Read more

Agnes Read more

I understand as soon as the oath is administered, senior staff will leave the inauguration for the White House. There is much work to do. Too much, too much. Even the lovely slide show is marred by one image of Senator McCain with the “not” sign over his face. Unnecessary, and speaks to wounds and anger and hatred that bubble… The litany of ill is long… Thing are so wrong & the President-elect (I pause, I know this may be... Read more

Tonight at 7pm, at the First Unitarian Church of Providence, we are gathering to sing, to reflect and to pray for our new president and his family, for our nation, and for the world. All are welcome… Read more