“Each member (of society) must be ever attentive to his social surroundings – they must avoid shutting themselves up in their own peculiar character as a philosopher in their ivory tower.” Frederick Rothwell (H.L. Bergson’s Laughter, 1911) For anyone who has ever attempted to learn a new language, you may have found that exercise both…Continue reading Dismantling Our Ivory Towers One Human Story At A Time
Category: Anthropology
Patience or Procrastination? Know the Difference … Know Thyself
“The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter.” – Paulo Coehlo – I often wonder how much of what I call “Patience” is simply me avoiding a decision that I do not want to make?…Continue reading Patience or Procrastination? Know the Difference … Know Thyself
Why don’t you all take a hike?!
A repost and a good reminder for 2018! “There comes … a longing never to travel again except on foot.” Wendell Berry, ‘Remembering’ “Komm, wir gehen im Wald spazieren”, was our family weekend anthem when I was growing up. “Let’s take a walk in the forest.” Like all children, I often had much better things…Continue reading Why don’t you all take a hike?!
A Chat with Kathy Baldock: Ally and Advocate – Part TWO
Dear Reader, this BLOG post is the second part of an interview with Kathy Baldock. For Part One please see this link. 4. Many religious people have expressed their concern as they see ‘homosexual behaviour’ as a sin against God and against Scripture. In fact, the Bible has been used as one of the main tools of…Continue reading A Chat with Kathy Baldock: Ally and Advocate – Part TWO
What if our Whole Life is a Liminal Space?
Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. – The Psalmist – Last week I had a fascinating conversation with someone about liminal spaces. It is a topic that I am very interested in as I have found that my life has often led me into these perplexing spaces. “Betwixt…Continue reading What if our Whole Life is a Liminal Space?
A very brief Introduction to Christian Fundamentalism
“There are few things more dangerous than inbred religious certainty.” – Bart D. Ehrman This is a REPOST of a blog I wrote a couple of years ago … most fitting at this time of Australian religious and political discussions! There is a danger in assuming that every Christian belief and practice that we adhere to…Continue reading A very brief Introduction to Christian Fundamentalism
The Avoidance Crisis
“Everything worthwhile in life is won through surmounting the associated negative experience. Any attempt to escape the negative, to avoid it or quash it or silence it, only backfires. The avoidance of suffering is a form of suffering. The avoidance of struggle is a struggle. The denial of failure is a failure. Hiding what is…Continue reading The Avoidance Crisis
Life’s Most Ignored Partner: Death
“It is hard to have patience with people who say, ‘There is no death’ or ‘Death doesn’t matter.’ There is death. And whatever it is matters. And whatever happens has consequences, and it and they are irrevocable and irreversible. You might as well say that birth doesn’t matter.” – C.S. Lewis – My sprightly father…Continue reading Life’s Most Ignored Partner: Death
Scars Sealed In Gold
“To banish imperfection is to destroy expression, to check exertion, to paralyze vitality. All things are literally better, lovelier, and more beloved for the imperfections which have been divinely appointed, that the law of human life may be effort, and the law of human judgment, mercy.” – John Rushkin – It seems that “banishing imperfection”…Continue reading Scars Sealed In Gold
Are You Getting Your Beauty Sleep?
“Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone” Anthony Burgess I love my bed. There is something totally therapeutic and delicious about sinking into flannel sheets after a long day. As an introvert I have memories of being at those hideous children’s parties and counting down the minutes until I can…Continue reading Are You Getting Your Beauty Sleep?