Thought it was about time to lighten up the blog’s appearance. The dark reds were kind of depressing, and I’m really looking forward to spring. This is a little more basic in appearance. I may add more in the way of graphics, but this will do for now. I feel more cheerful already.
Welcome to the 7th Carnival of Progressive Faith Bloggers! Join us if you would like to participate in future carnivals. Your host next week is Pearlbear’s Blog. Contact Michelle directly with a "Carnival Post" email or submit your blog link and description to ProgFaithCarnival – at – Yahoo.com with "Carnival Link" in the title.
I was planning on making this more of a narrative post, but the topics this week were very wide-ranging. The round-up is more concise than descriptive. I encourage you to go read the posts. Please feel free to comment with additional post links. Without further ado, then:
Baraka at Truth and Beauty questions whether revulsion is the best response with a witty, sweet defense of piglets and love hounds. Sometimes even the lowliest of animals can hold the key to Heaven or an explanation of our connection to God.
Eternal Peace outlines a two-tiered Tonglen meditative practice in which one breathes in the pain of others and breathes out a sending of relief and joy – but it’s the second level of the practice that got my attention.
Connecting with the voice of the infinite in our lives is pondered – with the aid Paul Tillich – at Even the Devils Believe (see also the top ten list of ikons for theologians).
Daniel at Radical Torah is also thinking about the singular Voice which arises in each individual – in a post on the radical, yet grounded, subjectivity of Judaism.
On grounding (in relation to rock/stone in particular), see an interesting instruction on alter construction from the book of Exodus, and take a look at photographs of the patient stones of Glendalough at Hoarded Ordinaries.
Think Buddha considers a challenging question of the relative ease or difficulty of ethics in a Western context.
Planet Grenada muses on Sunni-Shia tensions and hopes during Muharram (the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar), and Another Country interprets Lent as a time to establish new habits for spiritual growth.
Radical Hapa considers race in the context of the delusion of national innocence, and No More Apples expands on what it would mean to have "more of those apples" now that innocence is gone.
Semitism.net reports on Prime Minister Olmert’s annexation of the Jordan Valley, and comments on its injustice.
Richard at Tikun Olam comments on a recent political statement that compared stem cell research to the Holocaust, Nazi torture science, and slavery.
Xpatriated Texan considers heating costs and the politics of Citgo oil from Venezuela. At Blue Texas, he posts on the "Kinky" stalking horse hypothesis, and at the Progressive Populist he proposes the interresponsibility of ourselves with one another as the foundation of progressive values. Tammany on the Hudsom notes the low level of ethical understanding exhibited by pleading ignorance to an obvious conflict of interest.
LA Mom points out that the Bush administration can’t have it both ways for UN inspectors at Guantanamo.
Mainstream Baptist reports on proposed Oklahoma state legislation for state distribution of funding to faith-based organizations, despite strong prohibitions in its constitution.
At Cross Left Jo posts ten things that technology can help coordinate between progressive organizations, and ScottPaeth reflects on lessons from Bonhoeffer.
The Corner posts on subverting hierarchies and exploring the interpretational acts of a network nodal mode of power, and Pearlbear’s Blog connects the dots for a new conspiracy theory of entertainment media control and command technology.
Father Jake Stops the World takes a look at spiritual shifts and financial questions at the Episcopal Diocese of Albany.
Boy in the Bands wonders about the terms under which a new church might be welcomed under the Universalist Unitarian umbrella.
Velveteen Rabbi responds to the New Reform Response to intermarriage by questioning whether welcoming conversions of non-Jewish spouses may evolve into pressure and an expectation of eventual identity shift – thus undermining community acceptance and respect of interfaith couples as they are.
At the Feminary, Episcopalian Stasi is rebuffed by an Anglican kissin’ cousin, but welcomed by rabbis.
In a post that (unfortunately) resonates with my own experience, Reverend Mommy narrates a humerous, humbling moment of self-realization in the classroom.
And last, Grateful Bear quotes the Sufi mystic Ibn al-Arabi. I am particularly fond of this:
My heart has become capable of every form:
It is a pasture for gazelles,
And a monastery for Christian monks,
And a temple for idols,
And the Ka’aba of the pilgrims,
And the tablets of the Torah,
And the book of the Koran.
I follow the religion of Love:
Whatever path Love’s camel takes,
That is my religion and my faith.
Wishing you lots of love and warmth for Valentine’s Day!
Our son had a sleepover in the neighborhood, and we actually went out and about.
We drove over to Wahoo, near where I used to live in Decatur, but by the time we got there it was an hour’s wait to be served. So we ended up at Cafe Lily, where I had a giant delicious crabcake with avacado and orange and melt-in-your mouth lamp pinchitos with haricort vert (those wee green beans) and Japanese sweet white potatos. The Monterey Crosspoint Pinot Noir was a wonderful complement to the meal.
The co-owner Angelo made us feel as though we were transported out of Georgia altogether. He not only went out of his way to make sure that we were pleased with the meal, but also sat down with us and shared a glass. He also introduced us to the charming chef and co-owner (and son!) Anthony. Outstanding meal, great company.
When we finally got out of the restaurant, it was after 11. We had made plans to meet our friend Robert C at the Eyedrum Gallery, but we were tired and sleepy and not at all sure the place would still be open. We missed the entrance first time around, and wandered a bit in the somewhat rough couple of blocks nearby, but finally found the place. It was worth it.
I love the Eyedrum Gallery because it supports imagination and art at the ground level, providing a space for visual art, music and sound, media performances, and even lectures (I gave a presentation on viruses in fiction at their previous location and was flattered that someone there recognized me, and remembered it). Philanthropists should write a check immediately – this is more vital to the community than any number of shows at the High Museum.
Everytime I go there, I feel more attached to the participants and the crowd – it’s not my “scene” but I always feel very welcome there. One young woman wore a rooster hat, and somehow, it looked good. Where else in Atlanta can one find such experiences?
There were three openings, including the George and Helen Spelvin Folk Art Collection. Some of the materials were interesting – but I found the descriptions of the artists more interesting than the art on this particular occasion. My favorite opening was the “Certification of Ingenuity; Preliminary Assessment Forms: Findings presented by Peripheral Association Research Association” – showing forms of re-use and on the spot problem-solving. Each photo objectified a moment of problem-solving, using materials meant for other uses. It was serious. And funny.
The highlight of the evening was the “cake-sitting.” About two dozen people appeared with cakes and individual scripts, walked around the audience a bit, then proceeded to an area of chairs. After a countdown, they all sat on the cakes. I am probably too easily amused, but I loved it.
I also ran into an Emory grad student that I probably should have been in touch with years ago. He’s still trying to finish his dissertation, and is taking almost as long as I did to do so. We swapped stories and grinned at each other, and staggered about the room while contemplating student loan debt. It was fun.
This is a long-winded post, I know, and it has nothing to do with politics or religion or mommyhood or any of my usual topics. It’s just that the evening refreshed me and reminded me too that there’s more to life, and more life around. I need to get out more.
Season’s greetings to all, whatever you celebrate (and even if you don’t celebrate anything)!
We’re celebrating Christmas and Yule – but I think we’ll skip Saturnalia this year.
A gift for you:
If you pick it up, please upload/download to your own server. No hotlinking.
Come and visit my Christmas/Yule page. There is a special section on mistletoe!
Roy Zimmerman – Funny Songs About Ignorance, War and Greed … 12 Free Songs of Christmas – Day 1
Roy Zimmerman is being compared to Tom Lehrer – but he seems like a neo-Arlo to me.
The first download, available today, is Jerry Falwell’s God.
(Check out Chickenhawk too)
Thanks Roy! Needed that.