Category Archives: Religion and spirituality

Religion loosely speaking consists of the major and minor religions, like Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, etc., plus spiritual approaches to existence that address the issues that religions typically do.

Vegetarianism and Christianity — why don’t they mix?

Posted on October 22, 2012 by

The San Francisco Vegetarian Society has now uploaded the YouTube video of my talk, “Vegetarianism and Christianity — Why Don’t They Mix?”  This talk was given on Sunday, October 7, 2012, in San Francisco at the World Vegetarian Festival. Let … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Ebionites, Historical Jesus, Religion and spirituality, Vegetarianism / Veganism | 5 Comments

Vegetarians in the churches

Posted on October 14, 2012 by

Many times vegetarians and vegans ask the question, “is there a Christian church, group, or denomination, which it makes sense for me to join?” For most of us, the answer to this question is “no.” Vegetarians in the churches are … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Vegetarianism / Veganism | 9 Comments

This Just In: Jesus was Married!

Posted on September 21, 2012 by

Karen King, a Harvard Divinity School scholar whom I greatly respect, has submitted a draft of an article for the Harvard Theological Review discussing a Coptic gospel fragment which refers to Jesus having a wife.  This is now all over … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Ebionites, Historical Jesus, History, Religion and spirituality | 2 Comments

What is it with Buddhists and the First Precept?

Posted on September 7, 2012 by

The first precept of Buddhism is variously cited as “abstaining from taking life,” “not taking the life of any sentient creature,” or “not killing.” Buddhist groups seem to agree that the life which we are not to kill includes animals … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhism, Religion and spirituality, Vegetarianism / Veganism | 2 Comments
Status

I am honored to have been invited to speak to the World Vegetarian Congress in San Francisco, which goes from October 5 to October 8. I’ll be speaking on: “Vegetarianism and Christianity: Why Don’t they Mix?”  The talk will be … Continue reading →

Posted on September 4, 2012 by

“Be the Change” — where did this saying come from?

Posted on August 14, 2012 by

“We must be the change we want to see in the world.”  This is one of the most widely quoted sayings attributed to Mahatma Gandhi.  But did Gandhi actually say this?  In June 2009 I posted an article questioning whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature / Publishing, Nonviolence, Religion and spirituality | Leave a comment

Vegetarianism and Christianity

Posted on August 1, 2012 by

If you want to promote vegetarianism among Christians, there are basically two schools of thought.  (1) Some people cite the Bible, admit that Jesus wasn’t vegetarian (Luke 24:42-43), but say that vegetarianism is still a good idea because it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Ebionites, Historical Jesus, Religion and spirituality, Vegetarianism / Veganism | 5 Comments

The Jesus movement and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Posted on July 28, 2012 by

Here’s what James Tabor says about the connection between the Jesus movement and the Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran: “The Jesus movement can best be described as a radical, nationalistic, anti-religious establishment, messianic, apocalyptic, baptizing, new covenant, wilderness-way movement–and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Historical Jesus, History, Religion and spirituality | 1 Comment

The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Posted on July 6, 2012 by

James Tabor, whose writings never cease to challenge those thinking about the historical Jesus, has argued in a recent blog that the Dead Sea Scrolls were written by the group of Essenes as described by Josephus and Philo (the “classical … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Religion and spirituality | 4 Comments

Walter Wink

Posted on June 12, 2012 by

Walter Wink died on May 10.  The New York Times called him “an influential liberal theologian whose views on homosexuality, nonviolence and the nature of Jesus challenged orthodox interpretations.”  He was Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Ebionites, Religion and spirituality | 1 Comment