Category: devotion

The Perplexities of Consciousness, Part 2 "I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness."[1] Max Planck As we lay the groundwork for an exploration into consciousness, I find it interesting to ponder the … Continue reading The Perplexities of Consciousness, Part 2

The Perplexities of Consciousness "I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness."[1] Max Planck What is consciousness? Where does it originate? Where does it exist? What is the relationship between consciousness, the mind, … Continue reading The Perplexities of Consciousness

Blessedness and Woe, Reprise Blessed are you…; and woe to you… If there is an overriding lesson in the Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5, and in the Blessings and Woes, found in Luke 6, it is that life is full of blessings. And life is full of woes, at least from an emotional point of … Continue reading Blessedness and Woe, Reprise

The Woes, Part 2 “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.”[1] “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will weep and mourn.”[2] These passages are the second and third of the four Woes found in the sixth chapter of Luke. At first glance they seem to indicate that … Continue reading The Woes, Part 2

The Woes “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.”[1] The “Woes” are the last four of the eight Blessings and Woes found in the sixth chapter of Luke. They differ in focus from the four Blessings and Woes that precede them, as well as from the nine Beatitudes found … Continue reading The Woes

Blessed are the Persecuted, Part 2 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”[1] This is the … Continue reading Blessed are the Persecuted, Part 2

Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 4 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”[1] What does it mean to make peace. What is the nature of the peace we attempt to make? Is peace the absence of conflict? Is peace like the calm after a thunderstorm where the atmosphere has momentarily … Continue reading Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 4

Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 3 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”[1] The past couple of weeks I focused generally on international and religious violence. This week I zero in on more personal contexts of violence – that occurring in families and other intimate relationships. Jesus’ statement that “blessed … Continue reading Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 3

Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 2 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”[1] Last week I went to some length considering how common it is to use violence to try to attain peace, particularly between nations. In many ways it is our default position – that if we cannot peacefully … Continue reading Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 2