Eye on Faith

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Cleveland Volcano: Beware the wrath of Chuginadak

Mount Cleveland (NASA photo)

Professor of Geosciences Erik Klemetti reports that Cleveland

Volcano’s active 2011 is literally threatening to spill over into 2012. Last year’s growth of a lava dome “in the summit crater

area” had plugged “the conduit” - causing major eruptions on

December 25^th and 29^th. Because another lava dome is now

gathering steam, Mount Cleveland once again threatens to blow her top.

This mighty stratovolcano is located on Chuginadak Island (one of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands – aptly named after the fire goddess Chuginadak). Although Chuginadak might sometimes get lonely (residing in a rather remote part of the world), she has plenty of international counterparts to commiserate with.

One Pacific soul sister would be the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele. According to Squidoo.com, Pele fled to the Hawaiian Islands after sleeping with her sea-goddess sister’s husband (a definite no-no, even by superhuman standards). Every now and then, Pele will fling some fire down to the ocean, just to keep the feud aflame (and afloat). When not engaging in such sibling rivalry, Pele turns her attention to the gifts that humans (who fear being treated as shabbily as Pele’s sister) bestow upon her. These gifts, which are generally left nearby Pele’s “fire pits,” include a wide array of tropical fruits.

And then there’s Vulcan, the blacksmith of the Roman deities. Sounds rather humble a task for a fire breathing god of his ilk – but, in actuality, that’s what’s kept his reputation alive for centuries. After all, the very name “volcano” honors his achievements. No less a poet than Virgil has extolled his virtues in this manner: “You can hear the echo of mighty blows on anvils, Ingots of iron hissing in the caverns, fire belching

from the furnaces – the home of Vulcan, and the name of that land is Volcania.”

Perhaps some skeptics are thinking that ancient “myths” such as these are long gone. These same skeptics might wish to steer clear of the Earth’s ring of fire. Sleeping dogs may lie still for a very long time, but when they awake they are hungry. Ravenous even… At that point, it might just pay to urgently petition the neighborhood fire deity.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Volcano

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/02/new-lava-dome-spotted-at-cleveland-volcano-in-alaska/

http://www.archaeology.org/9807/abstracts/volcano.html

http://www.squidoo.com/volcano-mythology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratovolcano

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Moore questions: Just what is spiritual counseling?

Numerous articles are reporting that Demi Moore is currently participating in spiritual counseling. (Many state that she’s “receiving” it – as if the process were a one-way flow.)

Hopefully, at least some readers of these articles are asking themselves the following questions: What exactly is spiritual counseling? How does it differ from other types of counseling? Is it the same thing as spiritual direction?

Spiritual Directors International (SDI) describes itself as “a learning community committed to advancing spiritual direction around the world.” The number one frequently-asked question on its website is, not surprisingly, “What is spiritual direction?” Explanations from many different faith traditions are given. These include some of the following overall descriptions: the process of accompanying people on a spiritual journey… helping people tell their sacred stories everyday… the contemplative practice of helping another person or group to awaken to the mystery called God in all of life… it is really quite ancient…

The reader is then invited to explore definitions of spiritual direction from these specific faith perspectives: Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Taoist, and Yoga. For example, the Islamic section includes this quote from Rumi: Whoever travels without a guide needs two hundred years for a two-day journey. The Jewish section includes this quote from Rabbi Jacob Staub: The object of spiritual direction is to cultivate one’s ability to discern God’s presence in one’s life… The Buddhist section includes this quote from Karin Miles: Through empathy and wisdom, the director skillfully leads the directee to know his or her inherent goodness…

In order to discover the elephant that is hiding within a block of marble, a sculptor must first carve away all that is not the elephant. Similarly, SDI helps the reader to define spiritual direction by also explaining what it is not. The website states that the spiritual director is neither a psychotherapist nor a financial advisor. Although these roles might appear similar at times, spiritual direction is described as including “a deity or higher power as a third partner in the process.”

The terms “spiritual direction” and “spiritual counseling” are often used interchangeably. Other similar terms include “spiritual companionship” and “spiritual advisement.” When the Catholic Community Forum posed this question: What is the difference between a spiritual director, a spiritual advisor and a spiritual counselor? – no definitive answer was given. Instead, perspectives such as these were offered: There may

or may not be a difference… and …nothing a psychologist, psychotherapist, or my psychiatrist could tell me or no matter how many hours I spend with them talking – has the same effect as confession…

Resources

http://global.christianpost.com/news/demi-moore-receiving-spiritual-counseling-68269/

http://www.sdiworld.org/what_is_spiritual_direction2.html

http://www.catholicforum.com/forums/showthread.php?33279-Spiritual-Director-vs.-Spiritual-Advisor-vs.-Spiritual-Counselor

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

White dwarf and red giant: The yin yang of it all

Space.com recently reported that the Harvard College Observatory has a unique set of 500,000 astronomical photographic plates that were made during the period of the 1880s through the 1980s.

Researchers are studying these plates in order to view the variability of stars during this approximately 100-year time span. Within the data, pairs of stars were discovered in which one is hot and the other is cold. An example of this “symbiotic star” phenomenon is when a white dwarf and a red giant orbit one another.

Wikipedia reports that the white dwarf is a “small star composed mostly of electron degenerate matter.” Its high density results in a mass comparable with the Sun’s and a volume comparable with the Earth’s. When first formed, it is intensely hot – and remains that way for quite a long time. A red giant, on the other hand, has an immense radius and a relatively low surface temperature.

The symbiotic dance that these stars do with one another can be thought of as a yin-yang connection.

Shen-nong.com explains that the Ancient Chinese studied natural patterns and relationships rather than isolated things. They viewed the world, and even the universe, “as a harmonious and holistic entity.” The origin of yin yang theory came from their observations of the natural environment. For example, they would note that day and night were continuously evolving from one another. They would also note the sunny and shady components of the same slope.

“Cold” is traditionally associated with yin, and “hot” with yang. Wikipedia explains that yin and yang complement rather than oppose one another. These “seemingly contrary forces” are actually “interconnected and interdependent in the natural world.” In Taoist philosophy, a balance between the two is valued, and favoritism is avoided. Both are needed – whether one is dancing with the stars, or watching the stars

dance with one another.

Resources

http://news.yahoo.com/star-discoveries-found-antique-telescope-plates-132805474.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_dwarf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_giant

http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/principles/whatyinyang.html

Monday, January 30, 2012

When thy neighbors don't love thee back

When God distilled His 600-plus Commandments down to Ten, He may have been hoping that this would clarify matters once and for all. However, humans can be an obtuse bunch. God had to then distill those Ten down to these Two: Love God, and Love Thy Neighbor.

The world has since discovered the unpleasant reality behind Robert Frost’s famous quote: Good fences make good neighbors. Sometimes even those who manage to love their neighbors find that these very same neighbors just don’t love them back.

What then?

Chronic inflammation – that’s what…

Melissa Dahl of MSNBC’s Health Today reports on the results of a new University of California, Los Angeles, study linking “negative social interaction to increased inflammation.” Although inflammation itself isn’t a bad thing (“it’s an immune system response that fights infections and helps heal physical injuries”), chronic inflammation is linked to an increased risk in diseases such as coronary heart disease and even cancer. Stress seems to activate this immune response – and Jessica Chiang, lead author of this UCLA research report, adds that “interpersonal stressors are often the biggest stressors that people experience in their daily lives.”

This, indeed, might be the definitive response to Frost’s poetic query: Why do good fences make good neighbors? Nevertheless, we and the poet go on pondering mysteries such as these: Before I built a wall I’d ask to know what I was walling in or walling out.

After all: Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, That wants it down! - and that “Something” might just be greater than all the inflammatory conclusions this world can muster.

Resources

http://todayhealth.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/23/10217309-a-bad-friend-or-lousy-roomie-can-really-make-you-sick

http://www.bartleby.com/104/64.html

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Horatio Alger: From rags to wretched

Horatio Alger, Jr. (Harvard, 1852)

The Horatio Alger “rags-to-riches” American myth has certainly been criticized by everyone from Max Sawicky (formerly of the U. S. Treasury Department) to Michael Moore (Academy Award winning filmmaker). However, “rags to riches” might not be nearly as mythological as Horatio Alger’s own stereotypical persona.

Although it’s (sort of) true that Alger grew up in (relative) poverty, someone who began prep school by 13 and Harvard by 16 couldn’t have had that rough of a childhood. According to The Literature Network, Alger’s father was a Unitarian minister who supplemented his income “by becoming the first postmaster in town, tending a small farm and occasionally teaching grammar school.” Alger’s mother was “the daughter of a wealthy merchant,” and Alger’s father’s cousin helped to foot those Harvard bills.

No problem… Older people helping younger people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps… Still in line with the best of Alger’s stories.

Unfortunately, that’s where Alger’s reality begins to sharply diverge from his simplistically idealized storylines. Whereas Alger’s imaginary heroes may have befriended young males for the love of God and country, Alger’s own mentoring history was a lot more tainted. While later ministering to the First Parish Unitarian Church in Brewster, Massachusetts (having followed – perhaps unwillingly – in his father’s footsteps), Alger “left for New York City rather suddenly, ostensibly to pursue a career in writing.” Olgp.net reports the following: Church records uncovered after Alger’s death indicate that he was quietly dismissed for having sexual relations with several teenage boys in his parish. Alger Sr. (that is, Reverend Alger, Sr.) once again came to his son’s assistance (?) by helping to hush up the whole sordid affair.

Years later (years during which Alger continued to focus upon mentoring – and even informally adopting - young males), Alger wrote the poem Friar Anselmo. This poem, which many believe to be autobiographical in essence, begins like this: Friar Anselmo (God’s grace may he win!) Committed one sad day a deadly sin… Amazing grace ends up transforming Friar Anselmo – and hopefully, Alger, too.

Resources

http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/cinder/friar.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Alger,_Jr.

http://www.online-literature.com/horatio-alger/

http://www.olgp.net/chs/people/alger.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Alger_myth

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Atheist Temple: Church minus God?

Gonville and Caius (a de Botton alma mater)

Planning to build a temple is not usually big news. On the other hand, planning to build a “temple for atheists” ups the ante – especially when the planner’s name is Alain de Botton.

Wikipedia describes Alain de Botton as a “writer, television presenter and entrepreneur” whose works apply classic philosophy to everyday life. Wikipedia also mentions that he comes from an atheistic Jewish (contradiction in terms?) family. He was born in Switzerland (the only son of banking magnate Gilbert de Botton), and currently lives in London (city of his

proposed atheist temple). His prolific output includes the following: Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer’s Guide to the Uses of Religion and Are Museums Our New Churches?.

The latter BBC transcript (subtitled Why are museums so uninspiring?) explains some of the rationale behind de Botton’s thinking. He points out that although art is featured in secular museums, it is featured in “bland academic ways that fail to engage with the real potential of art, which is… to change us for the better.” De Botton then praises Christianity’s way of encouraging art to be “a medium to inspire you to faith, to remind you to be a healthy-minded, good and godly person.”

If this sounds quite different from the atheism espoused by the likes of Richard Dawkins, then de Botton would likely be pleased. The Guardian quotes de Botton as saying that Dawkin’s type of atheism is “aggressive” and “destructive.” De Botton is therefore encouraging a “new atheism” that draws upon some of what he thinks religion has to offer, while leaving aside the “God” part.

De Botton’s “tower of atheism” would thus “borrow the idea of awe-inspiring buildings that give people a

better sense of perspective on life.” He wants to erect it within a financial center because he believes that’s

“where people have most seriously lost perspective on life’s priorities.”

Resources

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/26/alain-de-botton-temple-atheism?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12308952

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_de_Botton

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Religion-Atheists-non-believers-guide-religion/dp/0241144779

Friday, January 27, 2012

Golden Temple: What is it really?

Harmandir Sahib (Photo by J. Budissin)

In the wake of Jay Leno’s controversial remarks about Mitt Romney and the Golden Temple, some have been wondering just what the Golden Temple actually is.

The real name of this central Sikh gurdwara (“place of worship” – literally, “Gateway to the Guru”) is the Harmandir Sahib (“Temple of God” - aka Darbar Sahib in Punjabi). Early in its history, it was also called Amritsar (“Pool of the Nectar of Immortality”), a name which was later passed on to the surrounding city.

The Temple site was a wedding gift from Mughal Emperor Akbar to Third Guru Amar Das’ daughter when she married future Fourth Guru Ram Das. The emperor did this because he was so impressed with the Sikh way of life. Wikipedia reports that this gift was the equivalent of “the land and the revenue of several villages” in 1574 CE.

In 1577, Guru Ram Das began the on-site excavation and construction. Sukhmandir Khalsa reports that Fifth Guru Arjan Dev, son of Guru Ram Das, finished the construction in 1604. Meanwhile, Guru Arjan Dev

had also been compiling the scriptural wisdom of his predecessors into a Holy Volume that would come to

be known as the Adi Granth (or Aad Granth, literally meaning “the half scripture”). When Guru Arjan Dev

first began compiling these scriptures, he is said to have given this explanation for doing so: “As the Panth

(‘Community’) has been revealed unto the world, so there must be the Granth (‘Book’), too.” The Adi

Granth was installed in the Harmandir Sahib almost immediately after the Temple’s completion.

The true “Gold” in the “Golden Temple” is therefore this sacred Granth (which was expanded in 1704, then

declared to be the Guru Granth Sahib - or “the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs”) by Tenth Guru Gobind Singh.

The Temple’s gold plating, marble, fresco work, and gemstones are beautiful and costly – but simply pale in

comparison to its faith treasures.

Resources

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=698047&ocid=ansent11

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmandir_Sahib

http://sikhism.about.com/od/history/a/Golden_Temple.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurdwara

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Amar_Das

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Ram_Das

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan_Dev

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adi_Granth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gobind_Singh