spiritual insights on religion, social justice and comparative theology
Watching Pope Francis’ funeral, I noticed something curious. There’s a debate about who had the “better seat” and was closest to the coffin that held the pope’s body. The Vatican noted that it broke protocol to accommodate Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, a last-minute addition, who were seated in the front row, as was President … Continue reading Reaching Out to the Margins by William Klein
Dominican priest, Father Gustavo Gutierrez, the father of Liberation Theology, passed away on October 22, 2024. Gutierrez’s ideas have shaped modern theology including that of Pope Francis. He believes that every modern theology points to the gospels and their relevance to our lives. Gutierrez grew up in Lima, Peru, where imperialism reared its head in … Continue reading Gustavo Gutierrez In Memoriam by William Klein
The people have spoken. In 2016 Trump lost the popular vote, but this year he won it. It didn’t matter that he was convicted of crimes. It didn’t matter that he inspired the worst among us by inciting racism, bigotry, sexism and creating a mood of indecency at his rallies. It didn’t matter that he made indecent … Continue reading What Do We Stand For? by William Klein
R. L. Stine wrote a Goosebumps story called “The Haunted Mask.” It’s about a girl, Carley Beth, who buys a Halloween mask. When she puts the mask on, she can’t take it off and she starts to assume an evil personality going from a timid scaredy cat to a powerful unapologetic monster. It’s an interesting metaphor … Continue reading The Lie of the Mind by William Klein
R. L. Stine wrote a Goosebumps story called “The Haunted Mask.” It’s about a girl, Carley Beth, who buys a Halloween mask. When she puts the mask on, she can’t take it off and she starts to assume an evil personality going from a timid scaredy cat to a powerful unapologetic monster. It’s an interesting metaphor … Continue reading The Lie of the Mind by William Klein
Vincent Harding, the former speechwriter for MLK, talks about “human signposts.” A human signpost is those people in our lives who direct us to where we need to go on our journeys. They are the light that show us the way. Harding was on to something significant. I thought about this concept and thought about … Continue reading Human Signposts by William Klein
The forms of separation we experience in life are many and manifest literally and figuratively. I’ve seen the power of divorce rip apart individuals and tear into families and wreak havoc on the psyche of a unit’s dimension leaving sadness in its wake. I’ve seen the terror of aloneness stifle people to the point where they … Continue reading Separation by William Klein
“What gives life?” My friend Jeff posed the question, “What is the most important thing in the room right now?” I thought about it for a minute and I said, “Us.” My answer was wrong. The correct answer was “air – oxygen.” Without air we’re not here. “No one ever gets that question right,” he demurred. … Continue reading Life on the Vine by William Klein
It always amazes me how art imitates life. There’s a great story by Flannery O’Connor, “Good Country People.” The story is about an atheist, Joy, who has a phd in philosophy, falls for a bible salesman, Manly Pointer. Manly seduces Joy, and while he’s making moves on her in a loft of a barn, he asks … Continue reading Art Imitates Life by William Klein
The Psychology of Resurrection I once heard a Buddhist priest remark, “There’s nothing unusual about resurrection. It happens every day. I was resurrected this morning. I was asleep, I woke up and saw the world as it was given to me.” He went on to use a familiar allusion when discussing resurrection, “A seed is … Continue reading The Psychology of Resurrection by William Klein
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