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Month: December 2012

Moroni’s Message to Non-Believers

Moroni’s Message to Non-Believers

“Step Into the Dark“Interesting picture . . . I can’t tell which direction he is walking. I’ve recently been studying Moroni’s teachings which are scattered through the last two chapters of Mormon and the Books of Ether and Moroni (chapters 1-7 & 10).  Moroni knew the effects of unbelief well, having described how it destroyed both the Jaredite and Nephite civilizations.  As the last Nephite, and having seen our day in a vision, Moroni’s message was intended for us.  It…

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Inshallah

Inshallah

Inshallah It’s been a year since we visited Morocco over Christmas–certainly one of the most memorable Christmases ever.  If you want to get back to the roots of why we celebrate Christmas, I’d highly recommend spending it in a place that is 99% Muslim.  I saw exactly two Christmas trees (and one was made of blue and silver tinsel) and zero Christian churches in ten days.  There was absolutely no effort to commercialize, hype or trivialize the event. It felt like we were…

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Religious But Not Spiritual

Religious But Not Spiritual

My favorite photo from Thailand: a RBNS macaque in Lop Buri.  If spiritual but not religious (SBNR) is the movement that lulls the secular masses into a false sense of spiritual security, then religious but not spiritual (RBNS) is the equivalent amongst regular church goers. Whether it is the temple-going-returned-missionary whose apostasy you never saw coming, or your Christian friend whose lifestyle betrays no evidence of their born-again-and-go-to-church-every-Sunday faith, it is far too common for comfort. These are ever-present reminders…

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Spiritual But Not Religious

Spiritual But Not Religious

Fr. James Martin is a Jesuit that takes issue with SBNR at Busted Halo  I’ve never met Reverend Lillian Daniel, but hearing her call out the spiritual but not religious (SBNR) crowd on this podcast made me an instant fan (listen to her 3 minute audio clip here, transcript here).  Being privately spiritual but not religious just doesn’t interest me. There is nothing challenging about having deep thoughts all by oneself. What is interesting is doing this work in community,…

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