Posted inMorality Politics Radha Soami Satsang Beas

In defense of uncertainty

This month TIME essayist Charles Krauthammer wrote a piece called “In Defense of Certainty.” Well, I’m certain that Krauthammer is wrong. He thinks that it’s entirely appropriate to publicly advocate political views founded on religious belief. Actually, it’s entirely inappropriate to do this. Last year I wrote about why religious values have no place in politics, arguing that “you can’t debate with someone who doesn’t have a defensible reason for why they believe what they do. You can’t debate with someone who responds to a reasoned argument with ‘Because the Bible says so’ or ‘Jesus condemns sinners.’” Religious belief is…
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Posted inGod Spiritual practice/meditation

God, can you hear me now?

It’s amazing how many people believe that God hears their prayers. Have they ever gotten a clear-cut, unambiguous, no-doubt-about-it confirmation message back from God? “Got your call. Will take request under consideration.” After I buy something from Amazon I get an almost instant email response. That way I know that the order I sent off through the electronic maze of the Internet has reached the right place and my material desire soon will be delivered to my doorstep. I’ve never gotten the same courtesy from God. Kind of makes me wonder if my calls are getting through. The “Can you…
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Posted inMorality

Animal lovers don’t eat meat

I usually don’t pay much attention to human interest stories, but the tale in our local newspaper of how Salem residents rallied to protect a mother duck and her brood of 10 ducklings moved me. The duck nest was in a bush next to a downtown office building. Employees from nearby businesses kept the nest safe until the ducklings hatched, then they and other people protected the mother and newborns as they waddled their way across busy streets all the way to the Willamette River. One passerby even let himself be lowered headfirst into a storm drain to rescue two…
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Posted inReligions Spiritual practice/meditation

Jesus wasn’t a Christian

Keith, a high school classmate, liked to say, “Jesus was a Jew.” That sounded shocking to me at the time. Yet it’s true. It’s also true that Jesus wasn’t a Christian. And Buddha wasn’t a Buddhist, Muhammad wasn’t a Muslim, Lao Tzu wasn’t a Taoist, Nanak wasn’t a Sikh. The people I’ve mentioned were just that: people. As Deepak Chopra observes, they weren’t the dogmas and ideologies that have come to be associated with them. Those religions and organized philosophical systems came later. Often we hear the phrase, “What would Jesus do?” Well, I’m willing to bet that if he…
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Posted inHumor

I announce my impending satori

Over on my other weblog, HinesSight, I’ve announced the inevitability of my impending satori (which may even have already arrived) along with the homey koans by which enlightenment will be achieved. I’ll be sure to let you know when it is appropriate to send me a “Congratulations on your Satori!” card. You might want to start looking in your Hallmark store so you have one on hand.
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Posted inRadha Soami Satsang Beas Religions Science

Cults, religions, and science

Ever since Rajni asked me about cults—specifically, if I think a certain spiritual group is a cult—I’ve been pondering what “cult” means to me. Here’s my response to Rajni’s question. ------------------------------ Rajni, you asked what my thoughts are of RS (Radha Soami Satsang Beas) being a cult. It’s taken me a few days to reply, partly because it’s taken me this long to get my mind around the concept of “cult.” Like lots of people, I use this word loosely and pejoratively to refer to a group of fervent believers that I don’t agree with. For example, I might say…
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Posted inRadha Soami Satsang Beas Religions

Wise beyond her years

Yesterday I got an email from a nineteen year old girl, Rajni, who had found this weblog. Her message made my day. Not just because she was complimentary about the Church of the Churchless—I also felt good that there are young people in this country (and elsewhere) who are wise beyond their years regarding the difference between genuine spirituality and spurious religion. And I liked how she expresses herself. When I read Rajni’s message to my wife, Laurel said “She sounds just like me!” Yes, I agree. Rajni raised questions about some of the same aspects of the spiritual group…
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Posted inGod Personal/Stories Radha Soami Satsang Beas

Did I see God in first class?

I may have seen God in first class. The first class section of an Alaska Airlines flight from San Francisco to Palm Springs, to be exact. Or, maybe I didn’t. In the early ‘90s I was traveling from Portland to attend a “bhandara," or spiritual gathering, of Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) devotees in Palm Springs. After changing planes in San Francisco I found myself in a right side aisle seat in the coach row directly behind first class, idly watching other passengers board. A middle-aged Indian gentleman caught my eye. Bearded, he was wearing a white turban and blue…
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Posted inHumor Reality

Secret of the universe

Wow! Today I discovered that, according to Google, I’m really close to the #1 “secret of universe.” At the moment (Google is whimsical in its rankings), I’ve got the #2 secret. Which is: Whatever is going to happen is what has to happen (Sorry to disappoint you if you were hoping for something else.) Take a look at #1 if you want a more profound answer. I really enjoyed “Secret Worlds: The Universe Within” (and also, without). With my slow Internet connection it took me a while to download the top-ranked secret, but it was worth it. I only wish…
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Posted inMorality Radha Soami Satsang Beas Religions

Be loyal to yourself, not a group

Most people look upon loyalty as a virtue. We value loyal friends, loyal citizens, loyal workers. But when is loyalty a vice? I’ve been thinking about this question ever since I came across a paper by philosopher Laurie Calhoun, “A Critique of Group Loyalty.” I’m a pretty loyal person. I don’t drop loyalties on a whim. I’ve been getting my hair cut by the same woman, Betsy of Hair Headquarters, for 28 years. My first marriage lasted for 18 years and now I’ve been married to Laurel for 15 years. I’ve had a Casio watch on my wrist for as…
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Posted inBooks God

The loving “I” of God

Here are two excerpts from Mikhail Naimy’s “The Book of Mirdad” that I enjoyed reading today. The first passage speaks about the Supreme Consciousness that many call “God,” but Naimy says is better called “I”—His only Word (pardon the masculine reference to God; it’s Naimy’s use, not mine). The second comes from a chapter on prayer where Naimy, in the person of Mirdad, starts off with: “You pray in vain when you address yourselves to any other gods but your very selves.” He refers us back to the Creative Word, the Supreme Consciousness, “I.” Meister Eckhart says that God’s “I”…
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Posted inReligions

No religion in National Spelling Bee

Over on HinesSight I mused today about how the three finalists in the National Spelling Bee competition, who apparently were all ethnic Indians, didn’t display any sign of religion on the stage. There was no “Praise Vishnu!” or “I owe it all to Shiva,” thank God. More and more it’s seeming to me that religiosity has virtually nothing to do with life. Real life. Religion won’t help you become a spelling champion. Diligent study will. A supportive family will. High intelligence will. The competitors I saw on ESPN enjoyed the benefits of each. What got them to the spelling bee…
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