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2023-09-24T16:25:55-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Dance of Welcoming in Spiritual Communities

Last updated on: September 24, 2023 at 4:25 pm By James Ford

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(A sermon by James Ishmael Ford, delivered at the Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasadena, on the 24th of September, 2023) *** One day while walking quietly together, out of the silence the Buddha’s attendant Ananda declared, “Teacher, to have companions and comrades on the great way is so amazing! I have come to realize that friendship is fully half of an authentic spiritual life. They proceeded along quietly for a while more, before out... Read more

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unitarian universalism

2023-09-17T07:35:00-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Word of Advice for a Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Last updated on: September 17, 2023 at 7:35 am By James Ford

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I saw a huge form, rounded and shadowy, and shaped like an egg… Its outer layer consisted of an atmosphere of bright fire with a kind of dark membrane beneath it… From the outer atmosphere of fire, a wind blew storms. And from the dark membrane beneath, another membrane raged with further storms which moved out in all directions of the globe. Hildegard of Bingen, Scivias, Book One, Vision Three It’s been such an... Read more

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unitarian universalism

2023-09-15T09:17:33-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Reflecting on my Gurus: Heard, Huxley, and Isherwood. A Small Appreciation.

Last updated on: September 15, 2023 at 9:17 am By James Ford

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The other day I came across a wonderful little essay “The Minimum Working Hypothesis,” It was Aldous Huxley’s attempt at providing a core to his belief in a perennial wisdom. It triggered a wave of thoughts for me. And in particular how much I owe to him and two of his colleagues Gerald Heard and Christopher Isherwood. One more distantly, but two inescapably. It inspired me to pause and gather a few thoughts about these three... Read more

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spiritual but not religious

2023-09-12T13:33:45-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Aldous Huxley’s Outline of Perennialism: The Minimum Working Hypothesis

Last updated on: September 12, 2023 at 1:33 pm By James Ford

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This essay by Aldous Huxley was first published as “The Minimum Working Hypothesis” in Vedanta for the Western World edited by Christopher Isherwood (George Allen & Unwin, London, 1948, pp 33-35. The book notes it also appears as part of Sebastian’s notebook in Huxley’s philosophical novel, Time Must Have a Stop. In the novel he explores many of the themes in his classic study Perennial Philosophy. I suggest all are worth a read, although this essay... Read more

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2023-09-12T06:42:28-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Knowing We’re Alive and Knowing We will Die: A Meditation on a Television Show

Last updated on: September 12, 2023 at 6:42 am By James Ford

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Jan & I have now seen two episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. We both have enjoyed them very much. We thought of it sort of as the original Star Trek, but done better. I’m pleased to note that at Rotten Tomatoes, the pros give it a 98% thumb’s up. And cautioned at how a solid but much less commanding 78% of viewers like it. Now, while I’m fond of the Star... Read more

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2023-09-10T08:23:37-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Small Meditation on the Collapse of Religions and What Might Come Next

Last updated on: September 10, 2023 at 8:23 am By James Ford

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The living way is like a well: You can constantly use it, and yet it never dries up. It is the eternal boundlessness; Birthing the infinite worlds. It is hidden from sight and yet always present. I have no idea who gave it birth. It is older than God. Tao Te Ching, Chapter 4 (my paraphrsase) There are elements that we can discern as “religious-like” in some animal behaviors. Of course, there is nothing to suggest... Read more

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2023-09-09T10:57:44-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Abba Poemen: The Bright Star of the Desert

Last updated on: September 9, 2023 at 10:57 am By James Ford

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Me, I’m endlessly fascinated by the monks and nuns we now call the Desert Fathers and Mothers. They represent a movement that began in the third century in what we think of today as Israel and Palestine, Syria, Arabia, and most of all in the Egyptian desert. They first captured my imagination through Thomas Merton’s carefully curated collection, the Wisdom of the Desert. And this interest has continued on since. Today, the 9th of September (in... Read more

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2023-09-05T13:39:14-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Reflecting on Blogging for Seventeen Years as Monkey Mind

Last updated on: September 5, 2023 at 1:39 pm By James Ford

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It was today, the 5th of September, at 12:53pm (Eastern time), 2006, that I put up my very first blog post. It was a Gary Snyder poem. Lew Welch jut turned up one day, live as you and me. “Damn, Lew” I said, “you didn’t shoot yourself after all.” “Yes I did” he said, and even then I felt the tingling down my back. “Yes you did, too” I said — “I can... Read more

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2023-09-02T08:33:26-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Noting the 50th Anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Death

Last updated on: September 2, 2023 at 8:33 am By James Ford

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John Ronald Reuel Tolkien died on this day, the 2nd of September, 1973. He was 81. Today at the Birmingham Oratory, the church where he recieved his first communion and confirmation in 1903, celebrated a requiem mass. Others are also marking his life. Including me, here… Tolkien was born on the 3rd of January, in 1892, into a middle class English... Read more

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2023-09-01T19:43:39-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Mind Bubbles Regarding the Episcopal Cheyenne Saint David Pendleton Oakerhater

Last updated on: September 1, 2023 at 7:43 pm By James Ford

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Noksowist, Bear Going Straight, was a Cheyenne, born in the Indian Territory, now western Oklahoma about 1847. His parents were Sleeping Wolf and Wah Nach. Spirituality seems to have been a driving force in his life. He is believed to have been one of maybe the youngest person to complete the sun dance. As a young warrior in the Indian Wars, he participated in several battles, including the Second Battle of Adobe Walls. In 1875, lacking supplies... Read more

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