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History and Religion

2026-06-06T09:49:30-05:00

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.

Being Altogether Here, Present to Life

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 9:49 am By Larry Jordan

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We try to balance our spiritual life and our spiritual practice. When we do that, we are really exploring how best to love our neighbors as ourselves, how best to be present to life. I wrote about consciousness here. In the article, I quoted author Michael Pollan. Pollan wrote, “My time in the cave had shown me another way to look at consciousness: less as a scientific or philosophical puzzle to be solved and more as a practice, a way... Read more

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Education and Religion

2026-05-30T10:11:10-05:00

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.

Is Connection the Fundamental Force of the Universe?

Last updated on: May 30, 2026 at 10:11 am By Larry Jordan

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The Western worldview is anthropomorphic and dualistic and individualistic. Our ideas about Ultimate Reality can be problematic. And our ideas about relationships can be problematic, too. However, the Eastern worldview is NOT anthropomorphic or dualistic or individualistic. I use the neutral term, Ultimate Reality, as a placeholder for the true nature of reality, NOT as a description of a particular speculation about the nature of reality. When I do engage in speculation, I think of the nature... Read more

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Education and Religion

2026-05-25T09:33:19-05:00

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.

What Does Consciousness Have to Do with Spirituality?

Last updated on: May 25, 2026 at 9:33 am By Larry Jordan

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Consciousness is certainly one of the most challenging and interesting topics that I have encountered in my spiritual journey. Perhaps Ultimate Reality (God) is the mind of the Universe. In my writing, Ultimate Reality is probably NOT personal, possibly NOT supernatural, and perhaps NOT even intentional. I use this neutral term to describe the “ground of being,” NOT a being, and there is nothing “woo woo” about it. In fact, there are striking parallels between Eastern mysticism and quantum physics,... Read more

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Education and Religion

2026-05-16T12:34:20-05:00

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.

Can We Choose NOT to Live in Anger and Fear?

Last updated on: May 16, 2026 at 12:34 pm By Larry Jordan

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When we choose NOT to live in anger and fear, we will experience more joy and less suffering in our lives. And we will introduce less pain to other people’s lives. Recently, I had a conversation with a good friend in the deconstruction community. He described how he overcame his fear of leaving church. Although I had never focused on overcoming my fear, I realized that my story required overcoming fear, too. Many of us live in fear of death... Read more

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Education and Religion

2026-05-07T07:30:14-05:00

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.

What Does “Faith” Mean in Non-Religious Spirituality?

Last updated on: May 7, 2026 at 7:30 am By Larry Jordan

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Many Christians do NOT understand non-religious spirituality. Christianity focuses on beliefs, and its beliefs focus on a personal God. But most religious and non-religious traditions focus on practices (orthopraxy) more than beliefs (orthodoxy), and they may NOT believe in God. Spirituality, broadly defined, involves the connection to something greater, which is NOT necessarily personal, supernatural or intentional. Some religions allow their practitioners to adopt different beliefs, and some religions do not worship gods at all. Hindus can be... Read more

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Education and Religion

2026-04-30T11:45:54-05:00

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.

Our Questions Often Presuppose Our Beliefs

Last updated on: April 30, 2026 at 11:45 am By Larry Jordan

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How did the Universe begin? How did life begin? How did sentience begin? I wrestle with many spiritual questions. Often, I encounter mystery, paradox and uncertainty, rather than “solid” answers. Sometimes, I change my mind. Changing our minds can be helpful, even necessary, as we gain more life experience and encounter different perspectives. Three Big (Loaded) Questions I used to think that the big questions were things like, “Is there a God?” or “What is the meaning of... Read more

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Education and Religion

2026-04-26T10:33:44-05:00

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.

Who is “Us”? Rethinking Church in a Multicultural Society

Last updated on: April 26, 2026 at 10:33 am By Larry Jordan

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Real spirituality is embodied—right here and right now. I wrote about the false presumption of “normalcy” here. Some small corners of the world might look mostly Christian, middle-class, or white. Globally, we are NOT predominantly Christian, middle-class or white. We never were. We never will be. One purpose of that article (and this one) is to assert that NO identity is “normal” in a multicultural, secular society. All religion is cultural, and all theology is speculation, so we... Read more

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Education and Religion

2026-04-17T17:47:08-05:00

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.

Who Is “Us”? Rethinking Community in a Changing America

Last updated on: April 17, 2026 at 5:47 pm By Larry Jordan

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Can we build a community that works for ALL of us? One of my friends was venting about the “woke” media. “How come we see so many gay people, Muslims, non-white people and poor people every time we turn on the TV or watch a movie?! Why don’t we just see regular people anymore?” “That’s easy,” I replied. “It’s because we see so many gay people, Muslims, non-white people and poor people every time we look around the... Read more

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Education and Religion

2026-04-11T07:14:18-05:00

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.

At 68, Death Made Me More Alive: A Zen Reflection

Last updated on: April 11, 2026 at 7:14 am By Larry Jordan

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Don’t Fear the Reaper A glimpse of mortality can bring attention and presence to our lives. At age 68, death is present to me in a way that it was NOT present only a few years ago. Zen teacher John Tarrant tells a touching story about Issan Dorsey, seen by some as a “Zen saint,” who ministered to people with HIV until he himself died from complications linked to AIDS: “A friend was helping him come back from the bathroom.... Read more

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Education and Religion

2026-04-03T05:05:40-05:00

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.

My Actual, Mortal Life is a Remarkable Gift

Last updated on: April 3, 2026 at 5:05 am By Larry Jordan

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My actual life is ephemeral, finite and fleeting. That’s the point. That’s why it’s meaningful, precious and worthwhile. The Buddhists realize that pain and suffering are NOT the same thing. That is, pain is universal and unavoidable. Suffering arises from craving, notably longings or regrets about the past and hopes and fears about the future. So I do NOT need to imagine a future, eternal life. To me, it’s a distracting speculation that pulls me out of the here and... Read more

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Education and Religion

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