A few years ago at the end of yoga class my teacher brought her hands together in front of her, fingers pointing upward as in prayer. She bowed to us and said. “Namaste”. Everyone else returned the blessing. Everyone except me. I had no idea what she was doing, and it felt threatening. Then …
Recently, someone asked me if religious work to convert cultures around the world could be considered a form of religious extremism. Questions like this open doors to uncomfortable rooms. We enter them at our own risk.
CHANDLER, Ariz. — Neighbors walked by during their morning stroll, passing families waved from their bikes and drivers slowed down long enough to read the hand-drawn sign — “Dylan’s Food Drive.”
In Georgia, faith leaders are asking corporate executives to condemn laws restricting voting access — or face a boycott. In Arizona and Texas, clergy have assembled outside the state capitols to decry what they view as voter-suppression measures targeting Black and Hispanic people.
You may know I have been inspired by a farmer in North Dakota named Gabe Brown. He has rediscovered some of what our Native American forebearers knew ages ago… about a relationship with Earth.
MANCHESTER -- Award-winning author, professor, historian and analyst Robert Watson will present "Truman and Israel: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Statehood in 1948" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, at Israel Congregation.
Chag Pesach sameach; gut yontif! These are among the traditional greetings for Passover, which starts at sundown this Saturday, March 27. Observant Jews will have cleaned the house of leavened foods and are preparing for the seder, a feast that includes ceremonial foods to commemorate the ho…
My relationship with the earth has ups and downs.
BENNINGTON — The Rev. Hugh Cleary, C.S.C. will be offering a Lenten Mission at Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales Church on March 1, 2, and 3 at 7 p.m. This event will be in-person at SHSF church in collaboration with Fr. John Britto’s parish, St. John’s in Viera, Florida. It will also be liv…
The last time I wrote for this column, I wrote about the dangers of mixing nationalism and religion. At the same time, though, it is important to acknowledge how authoritarian government threatens religious adherents and religions themselves.
NEW YORK — Inside the temple in the New York City borough of Queens, monks clad in maroon robes chanted and lit incense and candles at an altar before a golden statue of Buddha.
It is definitely winter! While Punxsutawney Phil rests back in his underground home for six more weeks, Cindy and I warmly welcome seed catalogues arriving in our mailbox. Thumbing through the pictures and dreaming of gardening turns our attention away from the piles of snow, the short days,…
Our community is grieving although some are grieving more consciously than others. When a young woman is murdered in broad daylight on a beautiful stretch of the Walkway everyone is affected. For those who do not live, or work, or regularly walk that section it can be tempting to say :”What …
This week, spring term’s religion class began. We started by trying to get to an understanding of what religion is. What does a religion need to be a religion? We talked about tax code definitions, figureheads, rituals, texts. We talked about the many different shapes of religion; how differ…
Who are you going to believe?
The high-stakes U.S. Senate race in Georgia catapulted the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church back into the spotlight. For 135 years, the church played a vital role in the fight against racism and the civil rights movement. It was the spiritual home of the civil rights leader, the Rev. Martin …