thoughts on life

At the start of a new year, I’m grappling with the question of time and timelessness. (Still grappling, regular readers might think.) Throughout history contemplatives have struggled with the duality…

It’s customary for columnists writing at the end of the year to give their perceptions of the previous year, and prognostications for the upcoming one. Such an exercise inspires nothing…

A newspaper editorial reflects the thinking of not just one editor, but the editorial staff in general. When so august and influential newspaper as the New York Times publishes its…

An American living much of the year in Mexico wrote asking me to “state my religious agenda.” I don’t care for agendas, especially hidden ones. But intent is important. And…

I like Christmas lights and snowy nights as much as the next person. But the foo-foo of the fictional baby Jesus has nothing to do with the real teacher and…

All revolutions in history have had a ‘them’ that powerless (or at least less powerful) people sought to overthrow. However, with very few exceptions, success in getting rid of one…

Galileo spent the last years of his life under house arrest because he found evidence that Copernicus was right, the earth revolves around the sun. But are we just specks…

Whenever you hear the word “wired” applied to human behavior, pause and question the premises and assumptions. For example: “Human nature is wired toward creating meaning out of meaninglessness.”