I had this really fun discussion with longtime friend and musical troublemaker Abe Abdelhadi, wherein we liken leaving religion to death by a thousand paper cuts while increasing compassion for those we strongly disagree with. We also consider the critically important ways to sprinkle correctly pigeon blood while asking, “This is the book we get?!” Continue reading
Tag Archives: Humanism
Why, No! No, It Doesn’t At All!
Dear Dayton Church of the Brethren,
Hello, I am your neighbor. I live not far from your church, which sits on the main road in to our small town. I drive by your building multiple times a day. I see your billboards (both of them; one in front of the church, and this one which sits behind the church along the main highway that borders our town). Continue reading
Revised YMCA Mission Statement
I love the YMCA. I love supporting them and their commitments to fitness, healthy living and social responsibility.They do great work. I used to enroll my kids in many of their programs. It is a Christian organization and yet it is inclusive with regard to sexual orientation and also actively cultivates diversity. I travel often and I almost always grab a temporary membership wherever I go so I don’t have to interrupt my workout routine. I am working out at the Y just outside of Portland, Oregon this week and they have little posters all around the place that put forth their vision and mission statements. Continue reading
Love, Not Religion, Is the Big Umbrella
The Pope made quite a stir last week when he said that even atheists are redeemed and can meet Catholics on the bridge of good works and love. To a former Catholic like me Continue reading
Spiritual But Not Religious
Those who have ever made use of an online dating website know that part of signing up involves filling out a questionnaire that often includes stating one’s religious preferences. Besides the usual denominational and sectarian choices there is probably also an option for “Spiritual But Not Religious.” Continue reading
Reason in Iraq – An Interview with Faisal Saeed Al Mutar
Love, Only For The Sake of Love
“’See,’ they say, ‘how they love one another,’ for themselves are animated by mutual hatred.”
I’ve been kicking around an idea for some time and I want to kick it around a little in public. The idea is simple, perhaps self-evident, that if there is such a thing as unconditional love then it might best be described as love for love’s sake. Continue reading