Podcast: What do Cats Have to do with Interfaith Work?
Resistance Is Not Futile
I’m emboldened to resist These pleas to desist To a mindless assimilation Sans critical examination Of mythic cyborg-like notions Laced with spiritual potions A “We” with no “I” denti... Read More
Christians in the Sukkah
Have you ever heard the expression, “You’re in my personal space?” As Americans, we love our space. During the frontier days, barb wire delineated my space from your space. Today, elongated “p... Read More
Formations of Religion, or, Putting Scare Quotes Around Religion
John Lennon asked us to imagine a world without religion. But I would argue we have imagined religion into the world. Not the beliefs, practices, or traditions we call “religions.” I mean ... Read More
Holy Wisdom Monastery: The Movie
A short documentary-style introduction to the Volunteer-in-Community (VIC) program at the ecumenical Holy Wisdom Monastery near Madison, Wisconsin. It conveys the openness of Holy Wisdom Monastery, th... Read More
Blood, Guts, and Getting Over Humps
How can we reframe religious and spiritual language so it can be used to give voice to the seekers, the marginalized, the doubters, the broke, those in need of transformation, and those in need of ins... Read More
The path of no more resistance
For years I was both drawn toward and resistant to the notion of seminary. I was resistant because, in my mind, seminary was something that led absolutely and necessarily to ministry in the church (Ch... Read More
@siemprechipil
By way of introduction, I share a story of my formation. In May of 2001 I began a six month trip to Central America. I wanted to learn Spanish and immerse myself in another culture. I went to learn ... Read More
Rattling the (Rib)Cage
A quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald that I’ve been obsessed with lately: “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ... Read More
Creation and Formation
I’m now in the sixth year of a Ph.D. program in English literature; odds are there will be a seventh. Being at this stage of things can make for some existential confusion. On the one hand, I’ve b... Read More