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Below we explore spiritual questions about the meaning of life.
These tend to look at the ‘why’ questions. What is meaningful in why innocent people suffer? Why is there social evil? The posts look at these and other issues in terms of deeper principles applied to science, personal relationships, the experience of being human, and a religious meaning of divine presence.
It seems that the meaning of life depends on who you are and what you want. See Meaning of Life – What do we live for?
We speak of mental health as a desirable state. Is the concept of spiritual health any different?
Is virtue really achievable? Are some people just bad through and through? How does one consider how good or bad one is? How can one change one’s character?
Where does what is good in human beings come from? What about the origin of cruelty, pride, laziness and other vices?
Is there such a thing as the soul? Does my pet have one? Or is the Buddhist idea of ‘no self’ correct?
What about immortal life? Living for ever sounds a bit daunting.
Are there any deep differences between male and female? Posts look at the idea of gender as a universal idea as opposed to one simply made up by our culture.
Given the widespread incidence of human misery the question arises as to whether people are victims of circumstance. One alternative view is that we are responsible for our lives in some way. Which is correct?
One view is that suffering can be good for the development of character. If so is disappointment really a blessing in disguise? How one might face personal tragedy?
It is sometimes thought that the symbols found in various ancient traditions like astrology or religion have some relevance today. What about the western esoteric traditions? Are myths and legends anything more than superstitious beliefs? Do biblical images like light, pathways, battles, help communicate a higher awareness of spiritual matters?
Does the world of nature symbolise anything meaningful in human terms? Articles address what we can learn from animal behaviour. What plants can teach us. Whether food and colour have meaning for us.
Trap of contemporary values. Why do people differ in their beliefs? Does it matter what one believes? Is conviction or doubt more healthy? What might be an enlightened view of truth. How to think of enlightenment?
Religious superstition. On what can we pin our hopes on? Is the Divine only a matter of subjective and not objective truth? Blind faith. Has religion anything to offer? Atheism. Is being spiritual but not religious a good thing? Religious education. Is there really any higher power to put one’s hope in? Where is Providence in turbulent times? How to think of the Divine Source? What use is theology? Who was Jesus Christ? Value of prayer.
Is materialistic thinking rational. Does science invalidate religion? What findings of weird science true? Does evolution theory explain our origins? Does the brain fully explain consciousness? What is the relation between science and religion?
When we are on our inner journey, beginning to be healed of negative states, perhaps starting to experience enlightened understanding, and a sense of meaning and purpose to our lives. Here you will find posts about more positive inner states of mind. Well-being, happiness, joy, humility, fulfillment of fatherhood, delight in effective communication of ideas we cherish.
Ask parents what is deeply important for their children to learn in life and they will often say things like being a decent human being, having meaningful relationships, leaving the world a better place, and being freed from personal hang-ups. How can children be helped to form their own personal and spiritual goals? Religious education … Continue reading Religious education – What should children learn?
Hey let’s play ‘What if..?’ You might say that’s a stupid thing for adults to do but then if you are clicking on internet videos perhaps you’ve got a little time to kill. I’ll go first. What if love grew? What if altruism seeded and took the steering wheel in people’s minds? All of human … Continue reading Let’s play ‘What if…?’
A basic teaching of Christianity is that there is only one God but in three distinct divine persons, the Father, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit: each said to be God. Many Christian theologians themselves admit they have found it impossible to come up with a persuasive and rational explanation for three Gods … Continue reading Son of God — How to make sense of Christ’s claim?
The New Year gives us so many opportunities to do things in a fresh frame of mind and for many people it provides the necessary point to give up what they feel is a bad habit or to try and take up a new and better way of living. The thing with January 1st is … Continue reading New year — fresh start
Incarnation When the source of everything chose to dwell within one fragile body of a nobody, greater than the universe, yet barely traversing more than a double span; God became a man. Omnipotent, now impotent, dependent, vulnerable to all life’s troubles; no cheating here nor chance of unfair advantage, but just life at its harshest. … Continue reading Poem for Christmas
Only when we get a ‘proper winter’ do we realise how harsh life can be and the news reporters delight in searching out the rural, remote and particularly exposed places where people have no choice but to get on with it and break the ice in animal drinking troughs or walk miles to fetch necessary … Continue reading The cycle of life
Religious superstition is associated with places like Sicily. This is the setting for the television series featuring Inspector Salvo Montabalno, played by Lucia Zingarent. The episodes are based on a series of novels by author Andrea Camilleri, one of Italy’s famous contemporary writers. According to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper: “The charm lies in the vivid … Continue reading Religious superstition — Is that all religion is?
The Egyptian artist was never a literalist, but used symbols to represent inner concepts. He was free to combine human and animal parts, yet show the resulting image in a ‘seamless harmony’. A simple example of this is shown in Egyptian grammar. To write the single personal pronoun ‘I’ the writer would draw a human … Continue reading What was the mystical knowledge of Ancient Egypt?
Many people believe there is a higher spiritual energy they call God that transcends the mundane material world. This for them is not a personal God but rather a higher power that ensures there is order in nature the laws of which can be discovered by science. Idea of a personal God Another view is … Continue reading A personal God for thinking about
The closer we look at the structure of even ‘simple’ plants the more we can begin to see of the way each petal or leaf is formed in a particular shape, has colours, layers and textures which suit it perfectly. Florists work with this variety to create their arrangements; a garden designer applies their knowledge … Continue reading What can plants teach us?
