Category: Social Issues
The Search for Meaning
Philosophy, religious or not, attempts to deal with the inescapable and fundamental question of the meaning of life. Why are we here? What is our purpose, if any? In my teens, I was engrossed by Jean-... Read More
Making Sense of the Bible: What Grandma and Seminary Taught Me
As I enter into last semester of seminary I find myself finally making sense of the deconstruction and reconstruction of my meaning making, especially as it relates to the Bible.... Read More
Meaning Making: Finding Meaning Within Judaism
Judaism places a very high value on the act of sanctifying time. We sanctify time through the observance of the Shabbat (Sabbath) which lasts from Friday evening eighteen minutes before sundown until ... Read More
Internal Diversity & Intra-Faith Conversations
Did you hear the one about the Orthodox Jewish men who curse and spit on elementary school kids as they walk to school? Waiting for the punchline? Sorry, there isn’t one.... Read More
Meaning vs. Hope
The forecast for name-your-environmental-crisis-here often looks bleak. People who follow environmental issues know it, and sustained justice work can be a challenge. When I meet with religious groups... Read More
Supreme Religious Authority
The Supreme Court has always enamored me, at times more so than the ministry. As a child I often said I wanted to be a judge, though admittedly as a child I thought judges had the power to decide when... Read More
Guest Post: “Pursuing Elijah” by David Fisher
What are we?! – MEN! What are men?! – RESPECTFUL!!!! Let’s hear it louder! What are we?!!! – MEN!!!! What are men?!!! – SENSITIVE!!!! WHAT ARE WE?! – MEN!!!!!! WHAT ARE... Read More
Guest Post Part Three: Dharma bypasses ‘history-centrism’
On occasion, State of Formation is pleased to offer its readers and contributors selections from guest bloggers. Over this week we will publish four part series containing excerpts from a recent book ... Read More