I was sitting at my son’s house this week when he told Alexa to turn on the lights, then he hollered at “Ziggy” (an Alexa egg in the kitchen) to turn on classical music. Once I got past the shock that my hip-hop loving son wanted to hear classical music, I started thinking about artificial i…

Courage. It’s not a word quickly associated with religion. However, the world can be frightening and overwhelming — and religion can teach us a lot about courage. In a time when words like “pandemic,” “war,” “social polarization” and “inflation” are on everyone’s lips, courage is exactly wha…

Considered one of the world’s largest religions with more than 500 million followers, Buddhism originated 2,500 years ago in India. Buddhist teachings offer a unique perspective on human life and suffering, encouraging the use of tools like meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good …

War is nearly impossible to rationalize. Killing each other is a horrible strategy for resolving our differences. Killing each other’s children will never result in peace — but war is not about peace. It’s about winning. Might is right and solutions are based on intimidation and destruction.

The dual impact of the NFL’s Super bowl and the Winter Olympic Games recently turned our focus to sports in a way that only these kinds of mega-events can — and controversy, of course, followed in the headlines.

Sanctuary. A place of refuge or safety. Where does one find sanctuary in the world? At a time when people seem at odds with each other in nearly every aspect of modern life, the notion that we can find a safe place of refuge might seem like a pipe dream. It’s not.

By now we’re all familiar with “the Great Resignation.” Millions of people have left their jobs, and while there’s lots of speculation about the reasons for this mass exodus, the primary shift seems to be that purpose is outweighing profit and paycheck.

Would it surprise you to know that religious organizations address some of the biggest problems facing humankind? Addiction, domestic violence, homelessness, poverty and hunger are concerns for people of faith — and they make a huge difference globally. 

It seems every time I open a paper or turn on the TV, someone is talking about the impact of the pandemic, and offering little advice about how we cope with the changes in our world. All of us know it’s been a remarkably challenging couple of years — but what can we do about the way isolatio…

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and it’s one of the most popular days of the year to get engaged. Before you say yes, consider this: Research indicates that somewhere between 41 and 50 percent of marriages will fail, with infidelity being the primary cause. Financial difficulty an…

Winter is magical time. Whether the snow is falling or not, shorter days and longer nights invite us to snuggle up with a book or a good movie  and spend quiet time with those we love. In many spiritual traditions, it’s suggested we turn inward during this time of year and reflect on the ups…

Christmas is a few days away and colorful lights, inflatable reindeer, extended shopping hours and caroling bands of high school students remind us that it’s a special time. Gallup statistics say more than 90 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas. That’s interesting, because Pew research …

’Tis the season to be Jolly — except many of us aren’t. The holiday season is also a time of loss and grief. We miss those who won’t be joining us for festivities, those who have passed away and those who have moved away. Those we’ve separated from or divorced.

With Turkey Day behind us, we enter the final month of 2021. What an interesting year it’s been — and may I emphasize the word “interesting” in a tone of voice that implies I really don’t want to do that again!

As a parent or a grandparent, one can’t help but be concerned about the world awaiting our children. We’ve all given some head space to the impact of climate change and it’s a topic our children can’t escape — on the news, in our schools and in community discussions. If I were a child, I’d b…

Halloween is Sunday and our streets will be filled with little ghosts and goblins looking for treats. Ancient spiritual traditions teach that “the veils are thin” now, which basically means it’s easier for those who have passed away to return to the land of the living for a visit.

Here we are in the month of October and theaters are predictably promoting titles like Candyman and Halloween Kills. I’ve never been able to watch scary movies. I spend the whole time with my eyes closed and my ears covered — but my kids and grandkids love them!

Can you feel it? The weather is still warm — warmer than usual, actually — but fall is near. Pumpkin spice, Halloween decorations on grocery store shelves, and the occasional red leaf peeking out from under the green all serve to alert us to the changing season. Nights are cooler and the hus…

At eighteen I was raped by a roommate’s boyfriend who broke into our home when I was alone. Nine weeks later, after avoiding thinking about it because it was too awful, I found out I was pregnant.

As universities welcome students to a new academic year, the question of pandemic-related trauma and its impact is rising to the surface. Last year’s classes were largely online, which means many students are now experiencing their first year on campus. It will take a little time to see how …

‘In the kingdom of love there is no competition; there is no possessiveness or control. The more love you give away, the more love you will have.” These words, by poet John O’Donohue, have guided me for several decades. This simple sentiment is a whole sermon in two sentences.

In the western world, there exists an over-arching reference to the Holy as “He.” Jesus, Muhammad, the Buddha — so many male expressions. Few can quickly name three female faces of the Holy. Mother Mary comes to mind — and then who?

We’re in that lull between the Fourth of July and Labor Day, summertime holidays that focus our attention on “liberty and justice for all,” as the Pledge of Allegiance says. But while we deck our streets and store fronts in red, white and blue, we’ve become too well informed to believe our c…

How do we balance the needs of one against the needs of the whole? This question keeps surfacing in conversations about everything from gymnastics to vaccines.

In 2021, over 3 billion people use social media. The average American is on social media 2.4 hours each day. That’s 876 hours or 5.2 weeks a year. I don’t know about you, but doing the math shocked me! That’s more than twice the time most of us take for vacation each year.

In a country where recent statistics show three out of five of us are suffering from loneliness, I’ve seen one thing consistently lift people up — and no, it’s not prayer — it’s service. Somehow, when we do something for someone else, we’re infused with hope that we, as individuals, can make…

I remember when author and Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong said he would no longer debate the issue of homosexuality with right-wing Christians. “I will no longer dignify by listening to the thoughts of those who advocate ‘reparative therapy,’” he said. That was in 2009. “Certainly, the w…

According to Gallup analytics, American membership in houses of worship declined in 2020, dropping below 50 percent for the first time in its eight-decade study of the trend. Only 47 percent of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque, down from 50 percent in 2018 and 70…

Did you ever meet someone you just knew was going to change your life? Rev. Dr. Nori Rost leaves lots of people feeling like that. Nori is one of the most deep-hearted and dedicated people I know. As a spiritual educator, she shares my enthusiasm for interfaith study and conversation, and sh…

Since Jan. 6, the term “Christian nationalism” has been heard more often. My understanding is that the term reflects a belief that America is defined by Christianity and therefore Christianity deserves privileged consideration. When the Capitol was stormed that day, Bibles and crosses were i…

Since the pandemic began, children have had limited access to friends, teachers, social workers and the safe space school provides. Many important activities and events have been canceled and children have suffered the loss of interacting with grandparents and older family members.

I woke up to another shooting headline today. Something is terribly wrong. I don’t dare numb out the horror of what is happening in our country, and yet, it’s so horrible that if I allow myself to dwell too much on it, I’m paralyzed by heartbreak and fear. The reality is that people of all a…

Question: As we move past Easter and Christians around the world complete the celebration of the Resurrection, what does your faith tradition teach about death and the afterlife? 

Question: Many societies around the world deeply value freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and the ability to criticize ideas openly. Should this include the critique of religions and faiths?

Question: Pope Francis has said that domestic violence offenders should be forgiven. Do you think he’s right?

Question: Is polytheism a valid religious choice?

Question: Has humanity outgrown faith-based institutions?

Question: Should governments be able to create laws that prevent people of a particular faith from entering their borders? 

Question: Since many religions actively receive donations and are worth hundreds of millions of dollars, why are we giving them a tax break?

Question:  In the “Month of Love,” what is your best advice for strengthening a relationship?