chhockle

I'm deeply saddened today. I have heard far too much negative talk about my Muslim sisters and brothers. I can't simply sit and listen to it I must respond.

Whether it is the controversy over the building of mosques, miss representations in the media of what Islam says, people drawing the Prophet, or the heinous act of a Pastor planning to burn Qurans on 9/11 it has somehow become seen by some to be socially acceptable to be disrespectful to Muslims. The simple fact is, however, that ...

The phenomena of people calling themselves “spiritual but not religious” is not new but it is a growing reality. It is tempting for those who consider religion important to dismiss people who use this descriptor for themselves as somehow being less committed or “wishy washy”. My experience is that this is simply not the case.

Those who have taken on this descriptor have something important to teach us. Listening to those who call themselves “spiritual but not religious” what you often ...

Tags: religiosity, spiritual

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The phenomena of people calling themselves “spiritual but not religious” is not new but it is a growing reality. It is tempting for those who consider religion important to dismiss people who use this descriptor for themselves as somehow being less committed or “wishy washy”. My experience is that this is simply not the case.

Those who have taken on this descriptor have something important to teach us. Listening to those who call themselves “spiritual but not religious” what you often ...

Tags: religiosity, spiritual

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I was privileged yesterday to get an opportunity to hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama speak at the University of Northern Iowa. I got a lot out of the experience and want to do some reflecting on it here.

One thing that has always struck me about His Holiness is that he exudes such joy and hope. In person this absolutely holds true. This is a man who has seen an awful lot in his life and has every reason to be less than optimistic about human nature, yet he is full of joy and optimism. ...

Tags: dalai lama, non-violence

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This is a sermon given on November 8th 2009 at our faithspring worship service.

In his book “Acts of Faith” Eboo Patel a young Muslim man and creator of the Interfaith youth core relates a story of being involved with the Leaders School at the YMCA. As a part of this he had learned the song “Pass it On.” He sang that song around the house for weeks after. Sometime during those several weeks he overhead his father raise the concern to Eboo’s mother that the YMCA might be trying to ...