A Distorted Concept of Prayer

“Daddy, I just want to tell you what a great daddy you are!  You are just so special!  I love you so much.” “Thank you.  That’s very kind of you to say.  I love you, too.” “I’m sorry I didn’t clean my room this morning.  I’ll do it tomorrow for sure.” “Ok.  Please don’t forget.” …

Religion is a Cruel Master

Several conversations I’ve had recently have reminded me what a cruel master religion is.  When discussing theological issues with religious folks, rather than having an open dialogue with an intent to learn, the conversation invariably devolves to a repetition of “Well, we believe…” or “My denomination teaches…” or the ever-popular “Well The Bible says…” or …

What’s the Point of it All?

What’s the point of life? What is our purpose here on earth? What is the reason for our existence? These questions are pondered by every human as they come of age.  Philosophers pontificate on the subject.  Religious professionals offer pithy platitudes to their congregations to keep the parishioners placated and the questions quelled.  Most often, …

Silencing Dissent to Protect You From Dissent

Although I think that pursuing spirituality is a critical part of life, it is no secret that I have no love for religion.  I do not hate religious people, but I do hate the hierarchical systems that keep the masses from asking questions, that constrain spiritual growth and critical thought, that put every ounce of …

A Tribute to Moms

Since the dawn of humanity, mothers have been nurturing and sustaining life.  By working to strengthen their families, they have collectively formed the greatest force for peace this world has known.  They are a critical variable in the family equation.  It doesn’t matter how you rearrange the other numbers—without them, the formula just doesn’t work. …

What Christians Can Learn From Business

I frequently lament the fact that Western Christianity looks more like a corporation than a family.  But occasionally, Christians can learn some valuable lessons from the corporate world.  A colleague recently pointed me to this New York Times article  by Charles Duhigg from about a year ago that documented Google’s research on team building.  Apparently, …

A Clearer View of the Bible

Over the centuries, Christians have taken the bible and elevated it to the status of God Himself.  Instead of using it as pieces of evidence—as pieces of the puzzle that help us see key parts of the infinite picture of God and the finite but incredibly complex picture of we humans, they frequently use it …

The Intersection of Faith and Reason

Faith is not a guess that you feel really good about. True faith is knowledge based upon credible evidence.  If, because my friend told me that investing in the stock market is a sure thing, I believe that the stock market will perpetually grow with no hiccups, my faith is based upon faulty reasoning at …

Stockholm Syndrome in the Church

A common theme throughout much of my writing is the detrimental effects of religion on society and on individuals.  Most people believe that religion is a necessary corollary to a belief in God, but this is not the case.  Religion is nothing more than a human-contrived attempt to appease a God who is presumably angry …

A Balanced Approach to Gender Relations – Part II

In Part I, I stated that family life sets the stage for every other relationship.  The importance of the family has been increasingly disregarded in America over the last 60 years or so.  Progressive politics has attempted to gradually redefine what family is, and conservative politics, in an attempt to promote family stability yet remain non-offensive, …