Islam the Art of Quranic Calligraphy
Quranic, or Islamic, calligraphy is a special form of artistic writing using the Arabic script. Calligraphy took on prominence in Islamic societies because pictures of people and animals can contravene …
Belief in God
The great poet and novelist Voltaire once said: “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.” Despite what others would say, these spirit- and mind-challenging words …
Overcoming winter blues
A good portion of the population experience winter blues, a condition more common in the northern hemisphere. This is often due to the cold and a lack of sunlight, which …
What can one do to stop God’s wrath
When one feels God is angry then that feeling can be a mercy from God. With this innate sense of guilt that everyone has inside, one can guide himself to …
Atheism Myths
The most common attempts to discredit atheists in discussion stem from misrepresentation. If only Christian apologists could understand their opponents’ positions, they would have a chance at discrediting at least …
Reflections on the Torah
Comic, But Not Funny: The One Comic Portion in the Chumash Comedy? In the Chumash? Somehow, we do not think of comedy when we think of Chumash or of the …
How Atheists tell right and Wrong
These kinds of questions just crack me up. Is it implied with the asking, that only believers have a moral center? If that’s so, is it fair to assume that …
Esoteric Magic
The concept of esoteric magic can mean a wide variety of things. In a modern, practical context, the definition and usage of the term can be traced to Helena Blavatsky …
Antisemitism in the US Today
Antisemitism, like any form of prejudice, is alive and ‘well’ in the USA. Being raised Jewish in the 60’s I encountered this disturbing phenomenon first hand. Things have progressed from …
What is Zionism from a Secular Humanism Point of View
“O Jerusalem of gold, of brass and of light, For all your songs I will be your harp.” Traditional Hebrew song “Zionism” is an emotionally loaded word, and like other …
Role of the resurrection of Jesus
There are a number of biblical events that stand out in the minds of people. Creation, the parting of the Red Sea, the instantaneous destruction of the walls of the …
Coming back to the church
Some Catholics become alienated from the Church at times in their lives. This separation can occur for various reasons. As children, most go along with what parents teach, but with …
Meditation Neuroscience Brain Contemplative Neuroscience Ken Wilber Buddhism Philosophy
Before examining some of the research in contemplative neuroscience, it is important to discuss what contemplative neuroscience is and what relevance, if at all, it has to the study of …
Sadhus Holy Men of India
Sadhu is a common name for an ascetic or someone that practices intense yoga. The word “sadhu” comes from the Sanskrit meaning “to practice.” Sadhus are often referred to as …
The historicity of the Bible
These are two interesting questions. There are many ancient documents that have been determined to be historically accurate but would not be considered a reliable guide to morality. Josephus and …
Faith is Dangerous a Response to Dinesh Dsouza
Anybody who has ever perused the “Religion” section of the local bookstore has undoubtedly seen that the sheer volume of available apologetics material is most certainly not in danger of …
Zen Koan Case of Pa Lings Snow
Case: A monk asked Pa Ling, “What is the school of Kanadeva?” Pa Ling said, “Piling up snow in a silver bowl.” Pointer: Some called the Buddha “Tathagata.” This is …
Who really wants the Dalai Lama Dead
The recent threat against the life of the Dalai Lama was attributed to a number of news sources to Osama bin Laden. This is far from the whole picture. While …
Maintaining a Free People
Behaviors prohibited by biblical morality cannot always wisely be incorporated into national laws in a free society. The more immoral behaviors a society wishes to prohibit via society’s legal system …
Meaning of Life
Atheists have long been condemned to the idea of a meaningless existence. Religious people find the idea of atheism absurd and unbearable. Without a god to serve, what do you …
Jesus is salvation
Reducing salvation to a doctrine regulates it to a religious tenant rather than a lifesaving encounter with God. The Church specializes in the “doctrine of salvation” despite the various doctrines …
How Religion can Incite Homophobia
Religion can incite homophobia if the people of that religion have homophobic issues. Such a religion is that of the Westboro Baptist Church. God hates fags theme is plastered all …
Getting what we deserve
“You got what you deserved,” or statements that have similar meanings, have been standard sayings for centuries, showing up in literature and common language. Everyone who hears it knows what …
The Importance of the Festival of Holi in Hinduism
HOLI Holi is a popular Hindu festival, known as “the festival of colors“. Holi is also called Phagwah, derived from the word Phalgun, the month of the full moon. Holi …
Understanding the Basics of Zen Practice
What Is This Zen Stuff? Zen is a word that gets thrown around a lot in popular media. Most people have heard of Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, …
The Basics of Buddhism
Buddhism is a philosophy, a way of life, a religion to some but to others mainly a system of ethics. The more than 300 million Buddhists in the world follow …
How to have an intimate connection with the Divine through prayer.
The popular image of prayer found in Western culture is that of a person kneeling with their hands clasped before them and their heads bowed as they mentally commune with …
Zen Koan Wash your Bowl
Case: A new monk at the monastery asked Joshu Roshi, “What is the secret of Zen?” Joshu answered, “Have you eaten breakfast?” “Yes,” the new monk said. Joshu answered, “Wash …
Reflections my Hejab my Crown
Hijab: In Arabic, meaning barrier or partition In Islam, however, it has a broader meaning. It is the principle of modesty and includes behavior as well as dress for both …
Profile of a Rebel Buddhist Lama Chogyam Trungpa
In 1970, a Tibetan Buddhist Lama who once endured extreme thirst rather than drink fermented spirits came to America. Chogyam Trungpa never turned down a drink again. He’s defying the …
Your own road to the meaning of life
Begin by acknowledging that there is much diversity in thoughts about the meaning of life and how to find it. All of the answers are based on speculation, beliefs and …
The central role of forgiveness in the Christian faith
Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. Since the time that Adam’s disobedience introduced sin and death into the world, forgiveness became a necessity for people made in …