By Stephen Russell-Lacy In modern times, men and women are no longer seen as vastly different in terms of mental and emotional capacities, as was once widely believed. Traditionally, men were expected to work and provide for the family, while women were confined to homemaking and child-rearing. Before World War II in Britain, men typically controlled … Continue reading Male and female – How different are they?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy Emanuel Swedenborg was a spiritual philosopher. He believed that a good marriage helps each partner in their personal growth. As humans, we all have limitations, which is why this is so important. Sometimes, we know what’s right but still struggle to act on it. According to Swedenborg, nobody can be blamed for this … Continue reading Personal growth – Does marriage help?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy Spiritual philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg introduced the doctrine of ‘conjugial love’ to express the deeper side of a lasting sex relationship. Sexual loyalty Swedenborg emphasized the importance of faithfulness in a lasting sex relationship. Loyalty creates a foundation for trust and intimacy, helping couples navigate life’s challenges together. Infidelity, whether through physical actions … Continue reading Sex relationship – When does it last?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy Marital happiness can be hard to sustain. Living with someone can be a lot tougher than living on your own. In a relationship, you must figure out the day-to-day stuff together—money, kids, all of it. That means making decisions as a team and learning to compromise, which isn’t always easy. Couples often have … Continue reading Marital happiness – What matters?
Book Review of Making Sense of Sex by Adrian Thatcher 2012 SPCK By Stephen Russell-Lacy The issue of sex and gender is a complex and controversial subject that often generates more heat than light. Yet I am sympathetic with Adrian Thatcher’s assumption ‘that there is some possible way of understanding it, and so of arriving at … Continue reading Making Sense of Sex
By Stephen Russell-Lacy New Year resolutions are quickly forgotten. What happened to that plan to gain control over an unhealthy habit? Where did the resolve go to be more tolerant of the noise and untidiness around us? When did we forget we were trying to find time for people who need us? It is all very … Continue reading Change of character – Is it possible?
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?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy It’s never too late for inner personal change despite our ingrained habits. We don’t have to reach rock bottom in our lives before making the necessary effort. Looking at one’s faults can be an uncomfortable business. The spirit of kindness to oneself is necessary. This is needed to acknowledge the habitual presence … Continue reading Inner personal change – How to do it?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy Just as there is an ego so there is a higher self. But what is it? People often think that human beings are inherently good. And that personal development simply involves getting in touch with one’s true self. They believe a life, filled with compassion, joy, and peace, defines the true nature of … Continue reading Higher self – How to get in touch with it?
By Stephen Russell-Lacy Emanuel Swedenborg was an 18th-century Christian mystic. He has something to say about the origin of our mental images. He claimed he could converse with people occupying, what for most of us is usually, a hidden spirit realm. This he termed the ‘spiritual world’. He said this communication took place in full … Continue reading Mental images – Are we responsible for them?