Steven Levitt interviewed Steven Pinker the author of Enlightenment Now: The Case For Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress on the podcast People I Mostly Admire published on 08/28/20.

Pinker is one of those people that Unitarian Universalists call "prophetic women and men." He makes the case for human progress based on data and knowledge not on ideology and fake news.

Pinker's book is well worth the read and it will restore your faith in humanity in these challenging times. If you don't want to read the book, listen to the podcast. Perhaps you would enjoy both.

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Join Steven Pinker and Steven Levitt in that search.

Spiritual Book Discussion - The Spiritual Child - Chapter 2, The Science of the Spiritual Brain

                                    

Chapter 2, The Science Of The Spiritual Brain

Is there a biological and genetic basis for spirituality? The answer appears to be “yes” based on twin studies and other studies of neuroscience. Miller outlines four major areas for findings. First there is an inborn and universal awareness of the transcendent.  Second, there is a cross cultural surge in transcendence peaking in adolescence as the person becomes individuated from their family of origin and goes on their vision quest in the external world to “find themselves.” Third, there is a growing awareness that spirituality is nurtured and enhanced in relationships. Fourth, there is a growing awareness that the search for truth and meaning takes one within to “heart knowing” rather than  without to the world of external projections and perceptions,

This awareness on the part of parents and other nurturing adults that spiritual development is as important to healthy functioning as physical, cognitive, emotional and social functioning contributes to an awareness and desire to facilitate the spiritual growth of children on the part of adults.

Working with a seventeen year old drug abusing, academically failing, rebellious high school senior in psychotherapy at the insistence of his parents, I was frustrated because we were getting nowhere after three visits until I asked him not knowing where to go in our conversation, “So Bret, what is your interior spiritual life like?”. The smirk disappeared and a pensive look appeared on his face and it seemed to be the first time he was willing to take our meeting seriously, and he said to me in a thoughtful tone, “That’s an interesting question.”

He didn’t ask me what I meant by “interior spiritual life.” He seemed to intuitively know what was being referred to and became reflective.

It is this kind of phenomenon that Dr. Miller is describing in this chapter. It is usually missed by adults in our culture, and our young people’s lives are at higher risk for unhappiness for it having been overlooked and not having been addressed during this important part of their development.

Questions:

1. What was your interior spiritual life like as a child and adolescent?
2. Have you ever focused on and discussed this topic with a child or adolescent with whom you have a relationship?
3. What are the factors that have contributed to our society overlooking this critical factor in child and adolescent development in our contemporary culture?

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #46 - God is the love in which I forgive.

  Lesson #46

God is the love in which I forgive.

Forgiveness is one of those words in English which has several meanings and nuances. The way A Course In Miracles uses the word is not commonly understood in that “forgiveness” as the Course uses the word, only takes one person. “Forgiveness” is not a bilateral or a multilateral concept.

Perhaps the best definition of “forgiveness,” as the Course uses the term, is “the willingness to give up making other people and circumstances responsible for one’s unhappiness.” This willingness to no longer make other people and circumstances responsible moves one out of the role of victim to a role of agency.

Jesus said as the Romans were killing HIm, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” I imagine Jesus saying this with a chuckle. He was right. They didn’t know what they were doing. They thought they could kill His Spirit by killing His body. All the Romans were left with was dead meat. Jesus’ spirit is alive and well, and we still are talking about and learning from Him today, two thousand years later.

In Alcoholics Anonymous and other Twelve Step programs we are asked to make a list of all the people we have harmed and to make amends where it would no further harm. In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion towards ourselves as well as in human relations.

Today we are asked by Jesus in Lesson # 46 to remember that God is the love in which I forgive. The God of the Universalists loves God’s creations unconditionally. As we are loved unconditionally we also strive to love unconditionally as we say, “God is the love in which I forgive.”

My Kind of Church Music - We shall overcome - New York Philharmonic

 

Spiritual book discussion - The Spiritual Child - Parents don't need all the answers

Like every other aspect of human potential, spiritual development and growth is part of our birthright. As the Buddhist monk Pema Chödrön wrote, “It’s as if everyone who has ever been born has the same birthright, which is enormous potential of warm heart and clear mind.” This is true not only for children but for parents, too. The moment we are “born” into parenthood, our child’s spiritual development—that cultivation of a warm heart, a clear mind, and the capacity for transcendence—becomes part of our shared journey and our birthright as parents. 

Following your child’s spiritual journey may transform your entire family. You have the opportunity to hop aboard this journey with your child, and through your child’s journey, to travel on your own journey, as well. Say yes and see where you go.

Miller, Dr. Lisa. The Spiritual Child (pp. 49-50). St. Martin's Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

Parents can avoid their children's’ questions about religion and spirituality because they think they don’t have the answers. They don’t. That’s okay. Parents can approach spiritual questions as co-researchers and explore possible answers with their children and they both can grow,

The important thing is to recognize and acknowledge that spiritual questions are appropriate and legitimate and deserve respect and thoughtful consideration. Nurturing the child’s spiritual development is one of the most important activities of parenthood and rarely discussed in our modern society.

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. This principle applies to children and adolescents as well as adults. What a wonderful journey when parents and children walk this path together. 

A Course In Miracles Workbook Lesson #45 - God is the mind with which I think.

Lesson #45

God is the mind with which I think.

Leonard Cohen’s great lyric is “The crack is how the light gets in.” We are so occupied with the chatter of the monkey mind that we rarely see the light behind what Christians call the “veil of tears.” We resonate with Plato’s story of the care and realize that what we think is reality is the shadows dancing on the wall.

In Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve step programs we work on step eleven which is to seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand Him, praying for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. The shorter version of this step might be today’s lesson, “God is the mind with which I think.”

In Unitarian Universalism we covenant together to affirm and promote seven principles among which  is the free and responsible search for truth and meaning which leads us to the awareness that God is the mind in which I think.

We are asked today to take five minutes three times and settle down and clear our minds of the monkey chatter and relaxing say to ourselves “God is the mind in which I think.” God’s mind is that from which we have come and that to which we are going. What has happened here on earth is the opportunity to make this being one with God conscious.

As so we laughingly set all ego thoughts aside realizing the insanity the ego world creates and remind ourselves that God is the mind with which I think.

Good news for 09/18/20 - Food pantries and food resources in New York State

 

One of the greatest concerns of this pandemic is making sure all New Yorkers have access to food. No New Yorker should go to bed hungry. To find a food pantry that services your county, visit NYS food pantries.