Private prayer – Can it reduce fear?

Private prayer

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. The worldly minded suppose private prayer is no different from any other personal practice that induces relaxation. They ask ‘Don’t we relax by sitting in a comfortable position, in a quiet setting, having something calming to focus our attention, and adopting a passive attitude?’ Yet most people would agree that private prayer involves … Continue reading Private prayer – Can it reduce fear?

Scruton, Roger: The Face of God – Review

Scruton

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. In the book The Face of God, Roger Scruton discusses the atheistic world-view that has been gaining ground in Western culture. The atheist says that the laws of nature determine everything that is real, including human thought and action.  Consequently, because of scientific theory, there can be no supernatural explanation for existence. Nothing … Continue reading Scruton, Roger: The Face of God – Review

Religion – Does it have anything to offer?

religion

I am a deeply religious nonbeliever – this is a somewhat new kind of religion. (Albert Einstein) If you are spiritually orientated, you may welcome the notion of a deeper universal truth that applies to all people in all circumstances. However these days there is often an uncertainty about religion. North-western Europe is no longer … Continue reading Religion – Does it have anything to offer?

Science – Does it invalidate religion?

science

The idea that science has replaced religion has become popular these days. Some put religion to one side as now of date. People are noticing a huge development in research into the working of the human brain which seems to support this view. New imaging technologies allow science to measure blood flow and neural activity … Continue reading Science – Does it invalidate religion?

Do I have to be religious to be spiritual?

religious

Being religious seems to be going out of fashion. However, one growth area is the new spiritual self-help industry. This is said to be a commercial filling of the gap left by the decline of Christianity. These days you can pay for any amount of books, courses, residential retreats, audio tapes, videos and conferences. All … Continue reading Do I have to be religious to be spiritual?

Heart, Head and Hands

Heart, Head & Hands

An Interpretation of Swedenborg’s Writings in Relation to Psychological and Spiritual Well-being
by Stephen Russell-Lacy. Seminar Books, 2008. 978 0 907295 36 5. (paperback) 180pp £10

“A fine little work … that will warm the hearts of the general public and all practicing Swedenborgians who are of a non-technical bent. …We find ourselves understanding a text while feeling that, at the same time, we are liberated by just reading it. This happens in many places in the narrative. Traditionalists will love the book, as it preaches the straight and narrow with regard to doctrine, but in places it almost unconsciously breaks out into a kind of semi-restrained wildness that reminds us of Swedenborg’s own mind – rational but also inward, intuitive, deep, creative, and as our British cousins are wont to say, spot on.”

“It’s a pretty comprehensive attempt to offer aid in meeting life’s many challenges. On Time Magazine’s ‘read, skim or toss’, scale for books, this is definitely a read – and keep handy for future reference.”