Recently CNN.com posted a piece entitled, “Are there dangers in being ‘spiritual but not religious’? As they define it, SBNR is “a trendy phrase people often use to describe their belief that they don’t need organized religion to live a life of faith.”

If by ‘trendy’ they mean ‘popular,’ I agree. If, however, they mean ‘trendy’ as in a passing fad – something here today and gone tomorrow – I’m not so certain that’s the case.

I know in my own life-setting the acronym SBNR serves me well. While I embrace the Jesus story as my primal narrative, I don’t call myself (for a gazillion reasons and counting) a ‘Christian.’ For me, the ‘Christian’ moniker has become too stereotypical of people I’d prefer not to hang out with and a theology that I largely no longer embrace. Continue reading…

It may not be the end of civilization (yet), but it seems we may have turned the corner on the end of civility… and so the latter cannot be a good sign for the former.

Behavioral scientists sometimes speak of different levels of human development and consciousness. For instance, ‘warrior’ consciousness expresses itself in terms of “the world is a jungle; eat or be eaten; express yourself and to hell with everybody else.” You have to admit those are not particularly admirable traits nor do they lead to admirable ways of interacting with others and the world at large. And yet, even though this level of consciousness is one of the lowest levels of all human interaction, suddenly it feels ubiquitous. Continue reading…