Category Archives: belief

EARTH DAY 2016: BREAKING THE GREAT CHAIN OF BEING (starting with anthropocentrism)

Posted on April 21, 2012 by nancyjfinleysd

(For the last few years, I’ve published most of the blog below on Earth Day.  I’m newly inspired after seeing “The Jungle Book” a few days ago.  It touched me and  it was lots of fun!  So I’m posting it … Continue reading →

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Easter Message from Obi-Wan Kenobi: “The Force will be with you, always.”

Posted on April 7, 2012 by nancyjfinleysd

Several years ago during Easter dinner, a young friend asked, “What’s up with Easter?”  This particular Easter celebration was a secular one and my friend was unschooled in religious stories and symbols.  I think her curiosity was sincere and that … Continue reading →

Posted in atheism, belief, Christ, despair, Easter, faith, hope, Jesus, Love, Religion, Science, Star Wars, Taoism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

CAN THERE BE EASTER WITHOUT GOOD FRIDAY?

Posted on April 6, 2012 by nancyjfinleysd

A wise Rabbi (thanks Zari Weiss) once asked: “Can you reach the promised land without slavery?  Can there be Easter without Good Friday?”  Can there? “The impossibility of religious faith has been a theme in the work of Edward Hirsch … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, Easter, faith, Good Friday, hope, MYSTICISM, nature, paradox, Passover, Religion, Spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

CASTRATING THE EGO

Posted on December 27, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

As we approach the new year, it’s time to purge.  I find it’s a good time to take stock and empty myself in preparation for the unknowns to come. You may have heard the story of the zen master who tells the student … Continue reading →

Posted in attachment, belief, Hafiz, humility, Kenosis, MYSTICISM, Spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Christopher Hitchens: R.I.P.?

Posted on December 17, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

If you haven’t yet heard, Christopher Hitchens died at the young age of 62.  He’s the guy who wrote God is Not Great and was a celebrated essayist railing against religion and for rationalism.  He really knew how to piss … Continue reading →

Posted in atheism, belief, Hitchens, intellience, mind, Religion, Science, Spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

GUM ON MY SHOE

Posted on November 14, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

Sometimes I step in gum.  It’s annoying.  It impedes my ability to move freely.  Attachments are like that.  They interfere with travel to spots on the map that call us to a larger life, places where we might find adventure, solace, wisdom,  joy, … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, belief, hope, humility, Kenosis, mind, MYSTICISM, Spirituality, Taoism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

WHAT DID MARX REALLY SAY?

Posted on October 11, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

Most of us are familiar with Karl Marx’s famous quote: “Religion is the opiate of the masses.”  If we believe this, we might feel smugly superior that we are not of “the masses.”  We feel “special.”  We feel more intelligent and … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, despair, faith, hope, humility, individualism, intellience, Love, paradox, Religion, Science, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

PARADOX IS THE THUMBPRINT OF GOD

Posted on September 17, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, body, despair, faith, hope, intellience, mind, Spirituality, Taoism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

BRILLIANCE AND HUMILITY

Posted on August 5, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

I believe that brilliance comes from a source larger than what one individual can produce.  So the truly brilliant are also truly humble.  They are aware that their radiance is a mere refection of the Light that comes out of darkness. … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, faith, individualism, nature, Science, Spirituality | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

ANOTHER COMMENT ABOUT “BELIEF”

Posted on June 17, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

“Fairy tales are more than true — not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.” – G. K. Chesterton

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