How should we understand God's declaration to Moses, "I am that I am?" [Exodus 3:14] We know that creatures evolve through relation. Mostly they eat each other, but birds also nest in trees. Certainly, nesting birds cannot survive without a tree, and if birds drop the seeds that grow into trees, the converse is also … Continue reading I Am
Category: The Bible
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan [Luke 10:25-37], few scholars understand Jesus' subversion. A traveler leaves Jerusalem (city of ritual privilege) towards Jericho (where the Israelites entered the Holy Land, losing Moses for direct communion with God). He is beset by two thieves (imperial and royal taxation). A priest (expecting money for service) and … Continue reading The Good Samaritan
When we tell the story of the United States, it begins with the British Empire. The colonial empires were bound to collapse under the burden of distance, and in Asia and Africa it was only in fomenting division that the colonial powers maintained control until the 20th century. In North America, where the settlers quickly … Continue reading Points of View
In honor of Alexei Navalny. One of the characteristics of religion is a focus on the unexplained. We turn to it when "Why?" overwhelms us. Because life is marvelous in its variety, we tend to get lost in the specifics of our experience. We turn to the Good Book (or books) seeking answers through comparison … Continue reading The Bible Made Simple
To love - to love truly - is to open for our beloved a portal that leads into the sustaining presence of God. If we do not, an emptiness grows that is filled by Death.
Love Returns 