Religion 🛐
Engel v. Vitale, Church v. State: All you need to know about this landmark case
Engel v. Vitale is a landmark Supreme Court case that reshaped the landscape of religious freedom in American public schools, sparking debates that continue today.
The Sermon At Benares (Summary): Enlightening Insights from Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha, started life as a prince in India, his early years marked by luxury and academic religious training, yet sheltered from life's harsher realities.
Kabbalah: Why Study Of It Comes With A Warning
Every religion gives rise to mystical offshoots that provide a more personal intimacy with the divine, compared with the dogma and institutions of the mother faith.
8 early Christian texts (besides the bible) that will inspire even atheists
Even if they don't convert you, these are worth reading. I've selected them because they are -Short -Influential -Accessible -Narrative driven mostly I find stories about real, amazing people more engaging than theology. These illustrate how & why Christianity conquered Rome.
Why the modern man NEEDS myths
Rollo May was an existential psychotherapist. In his book A Cry For Myth, he explores the place of mythology in modern life. Here are some great insights on how humans need more than mere reason to thrive, why mythology is connected to the drug crisis, and more:
How to ask someone out in person
Choose the right moment: Timing is key when it comes to asking someone out in person. Make sure the moment is right and they are not preoccupied with something else.
The Catholic Philosopher Who Chose Death Over Compromise
Thomas More was the most powerful lawyer in Britain, the King's personal advisor, Shakespeare's inspiration, and the writer of the world's first Utopian novel in 1516. EXECUTED as a traitor in 1535. Only to be made a saint in 1935. Here's the story of a man who died for an idea:
Everything You Need to Know About Hanukkah
It's that time of year. Snow is starting to fall. Stores are preparing for a big end of year rush. People are either stringent in saying 'Happy Holidays' or railing against the use of 'Happy Holidays'. Ah, Hanukkah and Christmas overlap again this year. So what is Hanukkah?
Egypt's sacred hieroglyphs + modern rebirth shine at British Museum show
The creation myth animating hieroglyphics - the painted script that Egyptian priests and even ancient Greek scholars believed was handed down by the gods - is being spotlighted by the British Museum in a fantastical exhibition charting 5000 years of the exquisite writing system.
Lemon v. Kurtzman: The Supreme Court's Unlikely Alliance for Religious Freedom
Lemon v. Kurtzman was a Supreme Court case that managed to unite the most unlikely of allies in a fight for religious freedom. Let's take this complex situation and break it down in simple terms...
What Do Stoics Mean By “Living In Accord With Nature”?
Living "in accord with nature" is a central concept in Stoic philosophy, emphasized by its leading thinkers including Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. It involves aligning one's thoughts, actions, and emotions with the fundamental principles of the natural world.
Kabbalah: A Path Out of Obscurity
The Kabbalah only came into being in the 1100s, in a learned Jewish community in Southern France. It spread into Spain, incorporating elements of Pythagorean, Neoplatonic and Sufi mysticism along the way.
8 Surprising Insights About Sex From The "Sex Guru"
Osho was an Indian Philosopher and was also known as the "Sex Guru." He had a large collection of Rolls-Royce cars, eventually numbering 93 vehicles. He said, "If you repress sex, the natural outcome is a perverted human being."
Blaise Pascal: Reason AND Faith Leads to Great Things
Blaise Pascal was a great scientific mind of his time. After building 50 prototypes he invented the mechanical calculator - the Pascaline. With Fermat he helped develop probability, and he had brilliant insights in the philosophy of mathematics.
"The Screwtape Letters" - C.S. Lewis' Strange Spiritual Classic
You probably know C.S. Lewis best from The Chronicles of Narnia. But his conversion to Christianity gave him another outlet for his imagination. Lewis knew that most people are not moved by rational or theological arguments. But stories might spark spiritual awakening.
Putting the Gefilte Back in Gefilte Fish
Walking down the 'international' foods aisle at the grocery store, you'll come upon the Jewish section sandwiched between Indian and Chinese. While kosher foods abound throughout, this section is for the particular, iconic dishes Jewish shoppers might need.
Why Robai Shin - “grandmother mind” - is the best practice you’ve never heard of
In Buddhism, a concept known as Robai-shin, or grandmother mind, was first taught by Japanese Zen Master Dogen, the founder of the Soto Zen school. It represents overwhelming kindness, compassion, and empathy.
Searching for Meaning and Purpose: An Existentialist Guide
In the grand cafe of life, existentialism is a philosophy that dares to sip the bitter coffee of meaninglessness, seeking solace in the aroma of our own existence.
Kabbalah: An Ancient Way To Fulfill Your Potenial
According to the Kabbalah, the divine realm needs human action to make the world fulfill its potential. Without us, God is incomplete. In return, it is up to us to ponder the mysteries of God and creation.
10 insights from greatest book G.K. Chesterton ever wrote (Orthodoxy | 1908)
Chesterton writes in Orthodoxy that humans have a "double spiritual need." On this Earth, they want to experience the "fascination of a strange town," while also feeling at home. They crave both surprise and safety.
Pascal's Wager: Do You Dare To Take It?
Child prodigy Blaise Pascal developed probability with Fermat, invented the hydraulic press (“Pascal” is a unit of pressure), and created one of the first calculators. But at 31 a mystical experience saw him give up math and science and devote himself to spirit and philosophy.
Hillsong: Fall of the Megachurch
There is no more well-known name in the evangelical Christian church than Hillsong. On any given Sunday, at any church of any size in any city in the world you are more likely than not to hear at least 1 song by Hillsong.
The Ghost Rapes of Bolivia: Facts vs. Fiction
At the 2023 Oscar Awards, Sarah Polley's Women Talking won for Best Writing (Best Adapted Screenplay). The story is a fictionalized version of true events that occurred within a remote Mennonite community in Bolivia from 2005-2009. So where does the reality end and fiction begin?
India’s caste system: banned but still very much alive
The caste system is a form of social hierarchy that is unique to India and has existed for more than 3000 years. It has been banned in India since Independence but still exists in Indian society. Let’s understand the caste system and its current application.
Finding Traditions in Food
I have written before about how we have a huge problem in our culture in the modern world. This problem is the fact that we have no historical traditions any more surrounding food.No big culturally important meals; no national recipes; no family meal times.