The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids with a height-to-base ratio of 1:1.618—the Golden Ratio. The ancient Athenians, those masters of architecture, built the Parthenon with its column configurations and dimensions based upon the Golden Ratio. In the last article, we looked at several exa…
Like many ministers, I once stood behind a high pulpit on Sunday morning, looking down on a congregation of eager listeners. How “eager” I’m not sure, but most seemed attentive, open to what I had to say. The traditional belief is that a past…
I’m indebted to Rick Warren for a word I’ve remembered on those Sundays when I don’t think I’ve done my best.
Last time, we mentioned “beauty” as soul food. It seems to me that since we have established that human beings are composed of both a physical body and an immaterial soul, then just as the body needs hamburgers and fries, the soul needs its n…
William Rufus DeVane King is distinct in Alabama history. He is the only Alabamian to be vice president of the United States, and the only vice president sworn in on foreign soil. He travelled to Cuba seeking relief from his tuberculosis, whe…
Observing a leaf-green mantis near the window I could tell by the way its head turned it was observing me as well. As far as I could tell it wasn’t praying, but it was clearly preying on unaware insects crawling up the holly tree. It almost f…
Last time, we posed a series of questions designed to encourage us to think about a unique capacity common among human beings but absent in the rest of the animal kingdom. That excellent characteristic is termed mind/body dualism. The 18th-ce…
Carol and I enjoyed a week on the South Carolina coast this summer. Sea breezes and the shade of pines, oaks and palms kept us cool. Wading into warm ocean waves refreshed us in the intense Southern sun.
I don’t often get to visit other congregations, so it was good to visit Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga., recently. A hobby club I’m in has had an annual convention in Plains and Americus for more than 30 years, and the weekend concludes with morning worship at the church of our 39th …
Now, back to the question, “How do you get from atoms to self-consciousness?” How do you get from the atomic chemistry in your brain to a mental thought—maybe even the thought about how fascinating this column is? If we are all just a conglomeration of atoms like the Darwinists, or the athei…
As a student of Philosophy and Religion through college and seminary, I was drawn to wise teachings from various sources. I came to see that wisdom can be found most anywhere if we care to search for it, or be open to it. The ability to use knowledge to live a more fulfilling and fruitful li…
Except in the case of brain surgery, there are generally more ways than one to accomplish tasks. Some insist their way is the only way, perhaps based on their personal life experience. Alas, this happens sometimes in the ecclesiastical world.
The 17th-century French philosopher René Descartes famously said, “I think, therefore I am.” What Descartes meant was that he only knew he existed because he was conscious of himself, or, we could say, self-consciousness. Self-consciousness is a uniquely human attribute that all non-impaired…
I learned the story of Giles Corey a few weeks ago. He was one of 20 accused witches who died in Salem, Mass. in 1692. Corey refused to enter a plea, defying the magistrate, who then ordered his torture. He was strapped to the ground with hea…
I’m not a wallpaper kind of person, but one of our rooms is covered with wallpaper with a leaf design. The pattern has faded over the years, but leaves are still visible. I noticed a tiny beetle crawling up the wall. At first glance I didn’t …
In 1883, the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote these words: “Have you not heard of that Madman who lit a lantern in the bright morning hours, ran to the marketplace, and cried incessantly: ‘I seek God! I seek God!’---As many of tho…
I served the church 30 years ago. I called the church office recently to get a telephone number for a former staffer. The receptionist is a long-time member and we chatted a bit. I asked about her son and husband. She asked, “Do you know what…
It’s one of the oldest questions often used as an argument for religion faith: Can you be a non-believer in God and still be a moral person? This of course assumes that a belief determines how good and right a person can be. “I believe in God…
Last week, we began looking at the research findings of two neurophysiologists who conducted extensive studies of the relationship between human consciousness and “the persistent, particularly human longing to connect with something larger th…
A historic Wilcox County church that became the center of Dr. Rosa J. Young’s Lutheran ministry across Alabama’s Black Belt will commemorate its 110th anniversary with a memorial service Sunday, Sept. 27.
Raised in a Protestant Christian tradition that values the historic creeds of the Church, I learned from an early age to respect and repeat them every Sunday. The central creed—an “I believe” statement— memorized from Sunday School days, was …
Our middle grandson, 16, enrolled in soccer referee training and has been officiating this year.
The Bible skeptic Michael, whom we have been engaged with for many weeks, asks a very important question: “Isn’t all religion just a mind game?” After all, the German philosopher Karl Marx famously said of religion, “It is the sign of the opp…
Someone recommended a Facebook group for Southern Baptist pastors. The recommender forewarned it would give thoughtful opinion, good humor and genuine frustration! And he’s correct.
It’s a challenging time to be raising children. Education is under assault from several angles, kids are glued to their devices, parents are stressed. Could more religion help, or make the situation worse?
