I had a great and restorative day of being myself (by myself) today.  I checked a book out from the library called Faith & Doubt because I loved this poem on the back cover: GOD SAYS YES TO ME I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic and she said yes I asked [...]

A few weeks ago, I wrote a somewhat emotionally reactive post about (hyper-) Calvinism and the seeming militant commitment to it by its adherents.  I didn’t mention it then, but the words were in response to a book I had just read, Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists.  Though I finished [...]

I am not a Calvinist.  I don’t like systematic theology.  I don’t enjoy endless debate about the character and sovereign nature of God.  These things are neither fruitful nor soul-nourishing to me.  However, I also don’t like being insulted as “theologically light” simply for not agreeing with a particular interpretation of Scripture.  As if had [...]

A while back I asked my husband if he thought the American way of family life–a single nuclear family living in a private home–is the best model available.  He was either being wise or rude; I can’t remember that he engaged the debate.  The question lingered and resurfaced while reading an excellent book, Honeymoon in [...]

It seems to me that an awful lot of people are talking, but not enough people are asking questions.  One person who I can always count on to ask great questions is my good friend, Anne, as you can see from her many thought-provoking posts here on PMIAB.  I have found another wonderful inquirer in [...]

I read a lot of memoir and this summer brought two remarkable women into my life.  The first is Shirin Ebadi, a Nobel Peace Prize award winner from Iran.  Shirin Ebadi grew up during the Shah’s government and lived in Tehran during his overthrow and the subsequent rule of the Islamic Republic under the ayatollahs.  [...]

Rosemary’s recent writings on the ongoing debates in the Episcopal Church reminded me of an excellent book I read a few years ago–a biography of Bishop Gene Robinson.  My review… Going to Heaven: The Life and Election of Bishop Gene Robinson Elizabeth Adams Soft Skull Press, 2006 On November 2, 2003, Gene Robinson garnered national [...]

Thanks to Greg Boyd who has saved me the trouble of actually buying and/or reviewing this, um, less than inspiring publication marketed as the Patriot’s Bible.  Happy Independence Day. Social Bookmarking

French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke out strongly today to lawmakers about banning Muslim women from wearing burqas or niqab in France.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/22/sarkozy-burqas-are-not-we_n_218920.html I agree with the President’s sentiments that the burqa is demeaning and degrading to women.  However, I don’t know that such a grand public denouncement and forceful legislative action are the most effective [...]

I have benefitted from many of the books mentioned by Rosemary. In my recent years, I have been particularly inspired by Marcus Borg and his incredible gift for expressing spiritual truths. Three memoir writers already mentioned, Lauren Winner, Anne Lamott, and Frank Schaeffer are also wonderful, enlightened writers with fascinating stories to tell. In college, [...]