Monthly Archives: September 2008

Reducing reductionism

What’s up with reductionism? While reviewing the chapter on Marx in Pals it hit me: it seems to me that few would have any problems with a doctor analyzing your symptoms and finding that the root of the problem is … Continue reading

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I don’t believe in atheists

I got a new book out of the library. It’s by Chris Hedges and it’s entitled I Don’t Believe in Atheists.  I don’t know exactly what Hedges is implying with his title so I look forward to discovering it as … Continue reading

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Convent notes

One of the interesting things about convent life is orderliness of it. One aspect of this is the amount of “control” there is in the house. I don’t mean cult-like control. Just the really tight ship management of the household. … Continue reading

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Peet’s rules!

I faced a minor coffee crisis Wednesday. I thought I had another half pound of Peet’s coffee in the convent’s freezer. But alas! It was Peet’s but it was Decaf Mocha Java! Eeek! So on my way to campus Wednesday, … Continue reading

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The universality of the unseen order?

James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Lecture III – The Reality of the Unseen This Lecture is incredibly rich! And I mean that in the good sense of the word. The letters and comments that James quotes vividly describe various … Continue reading

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How You Know You’re Living in a Convent #4

This past week was the Feast of the Stigmata, the day Francis received on his feet and hands the marks of Christ’s crucifixion. Things were, therefore, a little bit different in the convent. Most noticeable was the beautiful singing of … Continue reading

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Following Francis – The Journey Begins

I purchased a book from the Graduate Theological Union‘s (now defunct) bookstore during the summer. It’s Following Francis: The Franciscan Way for Everyone by Susan Pitchford. (Morehouse Publishing:2006) It dawned on me that it might be fun to read the … Continue reading

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Coffee calls

I know I should finish the James post. But I’m off to go get some Peet’s coffee. I am running a slight coffee deficit. The Sisters drink Folgers or Safeway’s best. I did bring some Peet’s Las Hermanas (cute, huh? … Continue reading

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How you know you’re living in a convent #3

Week three is past. The two sisters who were away in Australia (or New Zealand) came back Wednesday afternoon. The stories were wonderful. Lots of snakes, weird birds, fun, tons of rain (it’s winter over there).  I walked around the … Continue reading

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James: Subjective view of religion

James’ Lectures present a survey of kinds of approaches to the study of religious phenomena .  The text includes lots of reports to James of individuals’ religious experiences. Lectures I and II are key in that they tell us what … Continue reading

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