My spiritual advisor JMD had encouraged me to explore God’s love through the Sufi mystics. I associate sin and God’s love with Christianity, obedience and God’s mercy with Islam. Islam is safe and quieting and beautiful in obedience and mercy. When I meditated on the Love of God, I realized its scope. Unearned. Unearnable. AndContinueContinue reading “IV :: Unearned and Unearnable”
Tag Archives: Religion
I :: Shout Out to the Mennonites for Leading Me to the Sufi Mystics
Last week, I spent four days at The Hermitage, a retreat center in Southwest Michigan. They practice silence. Simplicity. And are associated with the Mennonites. My spiritual advisor, JMD, is a resident staff member there. I had been keeping a gratitude journal in preparation for my time there. I collected reading recommendations and knew IContinueContinue reading “I :: Shout Out to the Mennonites for Leading Me to the Sufi Mystics”
Character 14: Is Morality the Central Drama of Your Life?
13. Is morality the central drama of your life – is it what gives purpose and meaning to your life? If not, what is (family, work, friendships, etc. are other possibilities)? Do you think morality is an appropriate goal for life? During the bookclub discussion, the concept behind this question was rejected outright. Folks askedContinueContinue reading “Character 14: Is Morality the Central Drama of Your Life?”
Character 13: Do We Have to Think of Ourselves as Inherently Flawed to Keep Our Baser Instincts in Check?
12. Do you believe in Brooks’s assertions that humans are inherently flawed sinners? Does he put too much emphasis on that aspect of human nature? How much focus on our baser instincts is necessary to keep them in check? Brooks oft-repeats the “crooked timber” view of humanity-that we are inherently flawed and must be everContinueContinue reading “Character 13: Do We Have to Think of Ourselves as Inherently Flawed to Keep Our Baser Instincts in Check?”
Character 12: A Circular or Linear View of History and the Human Experience?
11. How does a view of history and the human experience as a circular pattern where opposing interests and values compete and give way to one another over time compete with Brooks? Do you see history as more circular, or more linear? Several people from book club pointed out that history is neither circular norContinueContinue reading “Character 12: A Circular or Linear View of History and the Human Experience?”
Character 11: I’ll Cut to the Chase-Let’s NOT Blame the Millennials
10. Did this book change your thoughts about Millennials and even younger Americans? Brooks spends considerable time comparing surveys of college students in the 60s and the 2000s. He often portrays Millenials as delicate snowflakes with unrealistic exepctations for their lives. Is he being fair to them? Y’know who is doing all the complaining aboutContinueContinue reading “Character 11: I’ll Cut to the Chase-Let’s NOT Blame the Millennials”
Character 10: Moving Into the Big Leagues and Maintaining Both Humility and Dignity
9. When is it appropriate to move from Little Me – humble and self-effacing as personified by Eunides – to Big Me – brash and self-aggrandazing as personified by Joe Namath? Katherine Graham, editor of the Washington Post, changed herself from a reticent personality to a strong, assertive one that took on presidential administrations -ContinueContinue reading “Character 10: Moving Into the Big Leagues and Maintaining Both Humility and Dignity”
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