Today’s Inspiration:

Spirituality News & Posts:

1. Shankaran Malini: The Miracle Called Life
“To me, god exists in everyone. Every moment in front of another human is an opportunity to find god in his highest values and best self. Loving people unconditionally is what I think god is all about. As they say, anbe sivam (love is god).”

2. Rabbi Adam Jacobs: A Rational Argument for the Existence of the Human Soul
” Who indeed are we? It seems to me that the answer to this query is fairly binary — either our self-awareness is a function of the mechanistic forces of the brain and its structure or our consciousness exists in time but not in space and is rooted in a plane of reality that is beyond (but interacts with) our own.”

3. Bishop Pierre Whalon: Why I Am Not An Atheist
“It is therefore unreasonable to look for scientific evidence of God’s existence. Whether there is or is not a creator who subsists completely outside of the universe cannot be proven or disproven by any means, scientifically or otherwise.”

Today’s Teaching:

Spirituality News & Posts:

1. Douglas Todd: Secularization the Best Thing for Religion
“New definitions for the word ‘secular’ are now emerging as philosophy, theology, science and ethics come together for healthy spirituality. Secularization is the best thing that’s ever happened to religion. That might seem like a shocking statement for both religious and secular people. But its implications become clear when we unpack new understandings of secularization.”

2. Suzy DeYoung: Reading, Writing and Mindfulness
“When asked why [Shirley Maclaine] feels that it is often so difficult for people to accept others, her answer was surprisingly brief and uncomplicated. Citing the lack of spiritual (not religious) education in our schools, she said, “If they would teach us from the time we’re little to meditate and get in touch with all that our souls know, we wouldn’t fight so much.” Could it really be that simple?”

3. Ottawa Citizen: What Role does Humour Play in Life?
“…there is the transcending component of humour. This is manifest in our ability to cheer up family and friends when they need a lift. This is a great gift, to be able to cheer up others without trivializing their pain or dismissing their worries. In the end, humour is no joking matter. The genuinely spiritual have learned to laugh at themselves, and this ability is one of the deepest roots in the psychology of humour.” ]]> http://www.sbnr.org/tuesday-august-9-2011.html/feed 0 http://www.sbnr.org/tuesday-august-9-2011.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SbnrorgSbnrDaily/~3/enDd6kGOoUI/monday-august-8-2011.html http://www.sbnr.org/monday-august-8-2011.html#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 06:00:36 +0000 SBNR.org News Desk http://www.sbnr.org/?p=9872

Today’s Meditation:

Spirituality News & Posts:

1. Michael Graziano: Is Spirituality a Byproduct of Evolution?
“We believe in spirits because we are predisposed to see minds in the things around us. But to most people, spirituality has a much larger halo of meaning including moral decency and love and religious awe and an all-embracing sense of fellowship. How are these spiritual experiences products of an evolved social machinery?”

2. Cathleen Falsani: At Church of Beethoven, Music is the Message
“Transcending dogma, creed, culture and even language, music has the power to elevate the soul as well as the mind. It’s the source of a type of faith as often discovered outside traditional organized religion as within it. While spirituality and religion are not mutually exclusive, in the parlance of our time, music is “spiritual but not religious.”

3. Huffington Post/RNS: Army Agrees To Host Concert For Atheists At Fort Bragg
“A group of military atheists have won the backing of U.S. Army officials to hold a “Rock Beyond Belief” concert for nonbelievers at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg next year. The victory came after several church-state separation watchdog groups complained last month to the Secretary of the Army that a Christian-themed concert held at the fort last September gave “selective benefits” to religious groups.”

Friday Fun:

Spirituality News & Posts:

1. Rabbi Mendy Herson: Spirituality is Really a Search Beyond Self
“G-d created spirituality as a bridge between himself and our reality. So spirituality is actually a means through which G-d makes G-dliness felt in our world. Think of the way electricity is best conducted through certain materials. Perhaps we can think of spirituality as a conductor for divinity.”

2. Lissa Rankin: Meet Your Inner Pilot Light
“Your Inner Pilot Light is that ever-radiant, always-sparkly, 100% authentic, totally effervescent spark that lies at the core of you. Call it your essential self, your divine spark, your Christ consciousness, your Buddha nature, your higher self, your soul, your wise self, your intuition, or your inner healer.”

3. Cathy Lynn Grossman: Study Sees Link Between Education And Views Of Heaven
“The old wisdom: The more educated you are, the less likely you will be religious. But a new study says education doesn’t drive people away from God — it gives them a more liberal attitude about who’s going to heaven.”

Today’s Inspiration:

Spirituality News & Posts:

1. Dr. Ram Giri Braun , Dr. Ben Cohen , Catherine Behan:
Is Your Spiritual Life Aiding Your Love Life?
“There are countless ways to experience spirituality in our diverse world, but it seems all paths share some common wisdom—and influence on relationships. We asked several YourTango Experts to share their opinions and stories on how spirituality can affect our personal growth, love life and other relationships. Here’s what they had to say…”

2. James D. Davis: Women Falling Away from Religion, Survey Finds
“Of the 14 factors in belief and behavior measured through the research, women have changed a lot in 10, the report says. And eight of them represent “negative movement” — away from religious involvement or biblical teachings. “No population group among the sixty segments examined has gone through more spiritual changes in the past two decades than women,” Barna writes.”

3. Terry Mattingly: God, Barbies and Girlie Girls
“It’s a question that can cause tension and tears in a circle of home-school moms in a Bible Belt church fellowship hall. It’s a question that can have the same jarring impact in a circle of feminist mothers in a Manhattan coffee shop. Here it is: Will you buy your daughter a Barbie doll?” ]]> http://www.sbnr.org/wednesday-august-3-2011.html/feed 0 http://www.sbnr.org/wednesday-august-3-2011.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SbnrorgSbnrDaily/~3/KyNDH_iA7LE/tuesday-august-2-2011.html http://www.sbnr.org/tuesday-august-2-2011.html#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 06:00:10 +0000 SBNR.org News Desk http://www.sbnr.org/?p=9834

Today’s Teaching:

Spirituality News & Posts:

1. Jenny Lawson: Lesson 21: Religion — Never Write About It
“Today we’re going to talk about kids and religion. Personally, I’m not that into organized religion, but I do believe in letting your children find spirituality themselves. That’s why in our house we talk about Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster objectively, so that our 6-year-old can one day make a decision for herself.”

2. Wendi Wheeler: Breaking Up With God
“I will still be compassionate toward others and help those in need and listen when someone needs to talk and give money to beggars on the street and volunteer with local organizations and bring homemade cake to work. I am pretty sure I don’t believe in God anymore, but I do still believe in good.”

3. Susan Leem: Art Can Stir More than Just the Soul
“Viewing and experiencing art in a museum can actually affect you physically. As Tom Jacobs reports in Miller-McCune, researchers outfitted visitors with an electronic glove while viewing an exhibit of contemporary art at the Kunstmuseum St. Gallen in Switzerland. The special glove measured the viewer’s heart rate, skin conductivity, and movement from one place to another.” ]]> http://www.sbnr.org/tuesday-august-2-2011.html/feed 0 http://www.sbnr.org/tuesday-august-2-2011.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SbnrorgSbnrDaily/~3/9mhDjVcs9fA/monday-august-1-2011.html http://www.sbnr.org/monday-august-1-2011.html#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 06:00:56 +0000 SBNR.org News Desk http://www.sbnr.org/?p=9821

Today’s Meditation:

Spirituality News & Posts:

1. Mary Knight: Conversions: God Answered Her Road Call
“When people speak of conversion, they usually refer to a specific religion, but this was not the case for me. If I had to call it anything, I’d say my conversion was more like an awakening to something I already was: someone who sees God in everything.”

2. Ottawa Citizen: Does Religion Unite or Divide People?
“It divides by the very nature of having different religions, which then become different faith communities, which are inevitably divided because of the differences. The divisions are tolerable up to the point that they become cause to vilify other faiths, and the members of those faiths.”

3. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush: The Karmapa: Tibetan Buddhism’s Next Great Leader? “While it is impossible for the Karmapa to become the next Dalai Lama for the obvious reason of lineage, he has begun to command the spiritual resonance and political heft associated with his elder Tibetan spiritual leader. In the years to come, the Karmapa may play a crucial role in the central concern of Tibet – China. The Chinese government recognizes the Karmapa’s legitimacy which may make him a powerful negotiating partner in that ongoing struggle.”

Friday Fun:

Spirituality News & Posts:

1. Lisa Honeybone: `Science Proves Spirituality’ Lecture
“Professor Amit Goswami believes that science based on matter is ending and that a new scientific frontier is rapidly unfolding – based on consciousness rather than third dimensional physical reality. The high-powered man of science is retired from over 30 years as professor at the theoretical physics department of the University of Oregon. He says science is proving that there is a spiritual dimension to life.”

2. Joseph Laycock:
Austrian Court Okays Head-Colander in Driver’s License:
Is Pastafarianism Becoming a Religion?
“After three years of waiting, Nico Alm of Austria has won the right to wear a pasta strainer on his head in his driver’s license photo. Alm is an atheist but he’s also a “Pastafarian,” a member of The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. After providing a doctor’s note ensuring that he was mentally fit to drive, his request was granted, but Austrian authorities were careful to point out that he was not granted a religious exception…”

3. Jason Tippitt: I Ain’t Marching Anymore
*Warning: This controversial piece has some colorful language and may be considered NSFW. “The Norway shootings were a last straw for me, though I think in retrospect I’ll see that this decision has been coming for a long time. I’m throwing my hat in with Chris Hedges and saying: I don’t believe in atheists… People are good or bad first, religious or nonreligious second. Sometimes religion motivates the goodness or the badness, but sometimes — perhaps a majority of the times — it’s used to rationalize the pre-existing tendencies.”

Today’s Inspiration:

Spirituality News & Posts:

1. Lorenda Knisel: Drumming and Spirituality Go Hand in Hand
“Since ancient times, people from all over the world and from many cultures have used drumming to heal themselves, to enter into deep meditative states to commune with the divine, to celebrate life, and to become one with their tribe. A revival has occurred over the past few decades, with drum circles popping up at music festivals, at spiritual ceremonies, and on college campuses.”

2. Jack Jenkins: Poll: God’s Approval Rating Barely Breaks 50 Percent
“More than half of U.S. voters approve of God’s job performance, according to a new poll, making God more popular than all members of Congress. The poll — which was conducted by the Democratic research firm Public Policy Polling (PPP) — surveyed 928 people and found that 52 percent of Americans approved of God’s overall dealings, while only 9 percent disapproved.”

3. Deepak Chopra: How to Love Your Enemies (Really)
“The difficult question of how to love your enemy goes much deeper than this. Many teachings in the New Testament clash with psychological reality. To love someone who hates you, like turning the other cheek when someone hits you, seems like a spiritual ideal that can’t be attained except by saints. Who among us is a saint?”

Today’s Meditation:

Spirituality News & Posts:

1. Nigel Barber: Why Atheism Replaces Religion In Developed Countries
“Atheists are heavily concentrated in economically developed countries, particularly the social democracies of Europe. In underdeveloped countries, there are virtually no atheists. Atheism is a peculiarly modern phenomenon. Why do modern conditions produce atheism? In a new study, I provide compelling evidence that atheism increases along with the quality of life.”

2. Stephanie Sandberg: God On The Spoon
“The practicing Christians I admire take their faith and apply it to the world, from the big city/big church minister to the small-town Catholic who went back to take her vows to my mother and her mixed-salad approach to positive thinking. They seek to alleviate the world’s heartache, in addition to finding support for themselves, basically in that order. Faith in God to them is a window to that world, a welcome to its citizens, some hope for provision of comfort.”

3. Rabbi Rami Shapiro: Bad Gods Make Good People
“In a recent study of the impact of religious beliefs on human behavior* researchers found that those who believe in a punishing god are more likely to avoid cheating than those who believe in a loving god. The reasoning is simple: if you think God is watching over you and ever ready to condemn you for sinning, chances are you are not going to sin.”