By Stephen Russell-Lacy Dogmatic religious believers give religion a bad name. No wonder then that religious practice sometimes gets equated with hypocrisy and rigid beliefs in outdated doctrine. Perhaps not surprisingly, researchers persistently find that about 25% to 30% of individuals in Western cultures identify themselves as spiritual but not religious. The very word ‘religion’ … Continue reading Religious practice – What is the secret?
David Moffat talks about whether our opinions matter This is an excerpt from a longer talk for Swedenborg Community Victoria here
By Stephen Russell-Lacy. This is the fourth script of a series of 6 podcasts asking how we can link ourselves with love and light: one of the great questions of life. In this episode we ask do myths in religious culture reflect a real humane side to transcendence? Listen to podcast Download podcast Love and … Continue reading Is transcendence humane?
Is ‘normal life’ returning or do bright promises of going places and getting out seem tarnished when we are forced to comply with a whole new raft of regulations? I’ve seen an article recently highlighting guidance that the volume of music in pubs, cafes and other such places is to be set at lower levels … Continue reading Serendipity
By Stephen Russell-Lacy. There is something that puts many people off religion. It is the notion that God is male. Feminism has alerted us to the way culture tends to prioritise the male point of view. Traditional society has been organised around male authority figures resulting in injustice for women. Translation involves interpretation In the … Continue reading Is God male or female?
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
By Stephen Russell-Lacy. According to the New York Times, Jordan Peterson is the most influential intellectual in the Western world right now. His book “12 Rules for Life” is an international best seller. However, if you happen to be sympathetic to a fundamentalist type of Christianity you may not like it. Peterson comes over as … Continue reading Jordan Peterson “12 Rules for Life” – Review
When we feel really vibrant and full of the joys of spring then energy seems to rise up in us. We find ourselves singing our lives. Inspired to see the truth in nature, in other people and in ourselves. Readily noticing vitality of growth, and beauty of form and colour in our surroundings. Newly seeing … Continue reading Truth – Only private & subjective?
“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?
The original 12 steps recovery programme is still used by AA (Alcoholics Anonymous). Many alcoholics have a hard time admitting that they can’t control their alcohol use. If they believe that they are unable to stop on their own, AA say the recovery process can begin. There is a big idea they promote. Most … Continue reading 12 Steps recovery – What higher power?