Ethical Prayer
Prayer is efficacious, never as a substitute for action, but as a guide and stimulus to action. —William Kelley Wright (1922)
The Many Health Benefits of Whole Grains
As the contents of the colon move at a better rate, there is thought to be less toxic exposure to the interior of the colon thereby reducing risk of developing colon cancer. British and Dutch researchers analyzed 25 studies that included a total of nearly 2 million people. Compared with the lowest levels of fiber … Read more
The Idea
“… The power of an idea lies, not in its certainty but in its vividness and in the number of people who believe in it …” —Sumner and Keller, quoting Lippert (1927)
Why?
Why is it a sign of philosophical ineptitude to “humanize” God but a sign of philosophical superiority to “mechanize” him? —Edwin Lewis (1931)
Finding Continuity
Religious states of mind contrast with those which are scientific or simply practical or moral in this respect, that whereas the scientific and moral are attempts at mastery over the not-self, to bring the objective material within the categories of the understanding or to bend it to the purpose of the will, in religion the … Read more
The Repercussions of a Good Deed
A right act strikes a chord that extends through the whole universe, touches all moral intelligence, visits every world, vibrates along its whole extent, and conveys its vibrations to the very bosom of God! —Thomas Binney (1798-1874)
The Object of Worship
Man has worshipped everything on earth, including himself, stones, hills, flowers, trees, streams, wells, ocean, and animals. He has worshipped everything he could think of beneath the earth, metals, caves, serpents, and under-world ghosts. Finally, he has worshipped everything between earth and heaven and everything in the heavens above, mist, wind, cloud, rainbow, stars, moon, … Read more
Survival Tip — Stay Focused
Where the eye is upon superfluities, either of quantity or quality, rather than bare necessities, there self-maintenance passes over toward self-gratification, and vanity-wants and pleasure-wants supersede hunger-wants. —W. G. Sumner and A. G. Keller (1927)
Noah’s Ark – A Modern Tale
And the Lord spoke to Noah and said: “In six months I’m going to make it rain until the whole earth is covered with water and all the evil people are destroyed. But I want to save a few good people, and two of every kind of living thing on the planet. I am ordering … Read more
The Gentlemen’s Bet
An American and an English officer were in the Officers’ Mess having a few drinks. After several of them, they hit on the idea to make the following (gentleman’s) bet: The one who could tell the biggest lie would win. They drew straws, and the American officer got to start: “Well,” he says, “there once … Read more