#ritual

Human beings seem to have a perpetual tendency to have somebody else talk to God for them. We are content to have the message second-hand. One of Israel's fatal mistakes was their insistence on having a human king rather than resting on the theocratic rule of God over them. We can detect a note of sadness in the word of the Lord, 'they have rejected me from being king over them' (1 Sam. 8:7). The history of religion is the story of an almost desperate scramble to have a king, a mediator, a priest, a pastor, a go-between. In this way we do not need to go to God ourselves. Such an approach saves us from the need to change, for to be in the presence of God is to change. ↗

— Richard J. Foster

#god #old-testament #pastor #priest #spiritual-mediation

Life and the universe are not a spiritless chance occurrence without a purpose, nor are they a trick performed by a supernatural magician." - A Time of Change ↗

— Paul Greene

#evolution #intelligent-design #islam #judaism #pyramids

To understand the love of being loving, radically changes us. People, in and of themselves, cannot give us happiness. Activities, in and of themselves, cannot give us happiness. One becomes a loving presence, a centre for Divine grace. ↗

— Donna Goddard

#change

Introverted seekers need introverted evangelists. It's not that extroverts can't communicate the gospel, either verbally or nonverbally, in ways that introverts find appealing, it's that introverted seekers need to know and see that it's possible to lead the Christian life as themselves. It's imperative for them to understand that becoming a Christian is not tantamount with becoming an extrovert. ↗

— Adam S. McHugh

#christians #evangelism #extroverts #introverts #spirituality

Our outer relationships are a mirror of the relationship and communication between our own inner male and female sides. Our outer relationships with a man or a woman are a possibility to understand our own inner man or woman. ↗

— Swami Dhyan Giten

#inner-man-and-woman #joy #love #psychology #relationships

Tethered to the universe by tendrils of history, with threads of continuity descending to God knows where, I see that I'm more than the dust I'll become." This quote is from my novel, "Whispers from St. Mary's Well." Many readers have said that, like the fictional narrator of the story, Carrie Rose Stillwell, they felt a deep connection to the universe through past, present, and future experiences, after reading the story of a child who communicates with future generations. ↗

— Carol Kenny

#historical-fiction #spirituality #communication

Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path. ↗

— Brené Brown

#authenticity #belonging #courage #creativity #empathy

Who would ever know the greater graces of comfort and perserverance, mercy and forgiveness, patience and courage, if no shadows fell over a life? ↗

— Ann Voskamp

#spirituality #courage

But, the true reason for the success of such new expositions [translated Eastern religious texts] is to be found where they are the most accommodating, least rigid, least severe, most vague, and ready to come to easy terms with the prejudices and weaknesses of the modern world. Let everyone have the courage to look deeply into himself and to see what it is that he really wants. ↗

— Julius Evola

#orientalism #religion #spirituality #tradition #courage

What can bombs know of the illuminated fields so golden with heaven in your heart’s sacred lands? ↗

— Aberjhani

#faith #heaven #hope #humanity #massacre