Think how much different (and more powerful) Christian celebrations of Easter would be if mainstream theology embraced all aspects of this ritual. This ritual—partially and selectively and without historicism—celebrates and mourns a person-deity, while manifesting erasure when it comes to… Read More ›
holidays
King would not be surprised.
….History prefers legends to men. It prefers nobility to brutality, soaring speeches to quiet deeds. History remembers the battle, but forgets the blood. Whatever history remembers of me, if it remembers anything at all, it shall only remember a fraction of… Read More ›
A few thoughts about Christmas songs, the related theologies, and traditions.
A powerful lesson happens when we have understandings of the past informed by evidence: the realization that most things considered “traditional” or as having lasted forever are actually new developments–often in the past century, sometimes in the past decade or… Read More ›
5th Annual 4th of July Reflection
There is much to be really disappointed and sad about this 4th of July. Hold off on the celebrations until the national assault–chaired by our current president–on minorities and freedom comes to a halt. Instead of a regular reflection, I… Read More ›
4th Annual 4th of July Piece: Country, Constitution, and Political Philosophy
This is part of what has become a yearly series. To see previous posts, click the following links accordingly: 2013: Personal Histories and Reflections about the 4th of July, 2014: “4th of July” vs “Independence Day” – Hidden Power of Words Series, #11,… Read More ›
Happy 2016?!: Humans, Numbers, and Challenges
Humans put an odd emphasis on years, decades, centuries, and millennia, not to mention seconds, minutes, hours, days, and weeks. The long process of industrialism has only exacerbated the (“evil”?) necessity of such socially constructed measurements. Our lives are controlled,… Read More ›
Thanksgiving From the Other Side
Similar to Christmas and the Santa Myth, Thanksgiving–given the accompanying emphasis on family and capitalism–Privileges those who fit the “happy and successful and normal” paradigm. I was not planning to post anything today, but the “thinker” creature in my head had other… Read More ›