spiritual insights on religion, social justice and comparative theology
The primacy of conscience is central to all moral teaching. The development of a conscience is critical in the building of a just society and in societal discernment of right and wrong. From a religious perspective, a conscience is the glue that holds doctrine together. From a personal perspective a conscience is the very fiber … Continue reading “Politics and the Primacy of Conscience” by William Klein
In a talk given at the Religious Education Congress in LA, Father Ron Rohlheiser reminded the audience, “There’s an old saying that ‘familiarity breeds contempt’. That’s why G. K. Chesterton wrote, ‘Our perennial [enduring] spiritual and psychological task is to look at things familiar until they become unfamiliar again’”. There have always been those times in our lives where … Continue reading “Mindfulness” by William Klein
The invisible is made visible in fascinating ways. Vibrant energy is popping all around us and the act of creation is the life-giving flow that stimulates more life and opens the floodgates of grace to produce more beauty. I once heard that Picasso would look at a blank canvass for over twelve hours. He wouldn’t … Continue reading “Invisible Made Visible” by William Klein
Jean Cocteau wrote a beautiful essay “On Memory”. He details the illusive nature of memory; brilliantly and poetically articulating how it can guide us, protect us and serve as a cornerstone for our understanding of truth, but it can also engender falsity and unintentional delusional understanding. Cocteau quotes a famous philosopher who wrote, “We are … Continue reading “Never Forget: The Architecture of Memory” by William Klein
The world lost a master academic and fearless champion for prayer. The great Cisctercian monk and Catholic theologian Father Thomas Keating passed away in November, 2018 at the age of 95. He was quite a man and his story was told in the documentary honoring his life by his nephew Peter Jones, “A Rising Tide … Continue reading “The Death of a Great Monk” by William Klein
History has witnessed mighty individuals fall due to callous egos. Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin come to mind and in recent years Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden. Shakespeare wrote compelling tragedies and histories about people who were caught up in the whirl of their own narcissism and the great bard depicted how it would ultimately be … Continue reading “The Power of Humility” by William Klein
Jeff Bezos’ base minimum wage was raised to $15 an hour. Good for him. It was the right thing to do. Other companies like Walmart have followed Bezo’s lead and raised wages for their employees as well to $11 an hour from the federal minimum wage. The last time wages were increased for the average … Continue reading “Raises For Working Poor Are A Necessity” by William Klein
“Every discord in life is the result of a mental concept entertained in the mind. Always remain above the situation…” Shared by my friend Art Miccio when I was working in business, it’s a quote that I recall every now and then to make sense of my feelings or difficult situations, or when I’m worried … Continue reading “Detachment” by William Klein
Desperation has a way of taking us out of ourselves. Some of us are inconvenienced by injustice. In other words, the injustice that we suffer forces us to make decisions we may not always make. Those of us who live in freedom -- who are gainfully employed, who have a roof over our heads and … Continue reading “Developing A Heart Of Compassion” by William Klein
As I get ready to return to school, I was thinking about the things I want my students to learn. The most important lesson for me to teach in the first few days is “You’re an expert in your own experience.” The first few nervous days of school when students are trying to find their … Continue reading “You’re An Expert In Your Own Experience”
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