COFFEE BREAK 146

+ updated at 8:25pm EST, Thursday, February 25, 2010

+ Huffington Post offers "Only Spirituality Can Solve The Problems Of The World" by Deepak Chopra. Excerpt: "If there is anything that will at this moment heal our wounded planet with its immense problems of social injustice, ecological devastation, extreme economic disparities, war, conflict and terrorism, it is a deeper experiential understanding and knowledge of our own spirit. With this deeper understanding and with an interfaith dialogue that looks at our commonalities rather than our differences, we have the opportunity to solve the problems of the world, address its inequities and heal ourselves. The word, "healing" and the words, holy and whole, all mean the same thing. To be healed is to have the return of the memory of who we really are. When we return to our sacred source, the world will be holy, and it will be healed."

+ 2:11 pm WEATHER UPDATE: Utica area is now expecting to get 8 to 14 inches of snow before it ends sometime tomorrow.  Higher elevations to the South may get 2 feet. 

+ The Worldwide Religion of Reality offers "Total Enlightenment: The Wisdom Prophecy." 

Excerpt 1: John L. Petersen is quoted: "We need to start the discussion about how a new world might operate. We need to get going. We're already late."

Excerpt 2: Dan Brown is quoted: "According to legend, the sages who encrypted the Ancient Mysteries long ago left behind a key of sorts… a password that could be used to unlock the encrypted secrets. This magical password – known as the verbum significatium – is said to hold the power to lift the darkness and unlock the Ancient Mysteries, opening them to all human understanding. At a pivotal moment in history… a moment when mankind can no longer survive without the truth, knowledge, and wisdom of the ages. At this dark crossroads, mankind will at last remember the Word and herald in a wondrous new age of enlightenment."  (The Lost Symbol)

+ The Charter for Compassion has now been signed by almost 40,000 people.  Here's how it begins: "The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves." Read it all.  Please consider signing it if you haven't already.  Tell your friends about it.  Spread the word. Compassion.  What the world needs now.

+ Click HERE to find out about a great conference on Emerging Christianity coming up in Albuquerque in April. It's on my wish list.  Maybe someone can help me make my wish happen.

+ Voices of Sophia offers "Feminist theology basics: What is gender?" by Heather W. Reichgott. Excerpt:

Feminist theory defines essentialism as the view that women have certain traits by nature, although it’s very much open for discussion what those traits are, what makes them good or bad, and how they ought to be deployed in the world. Theologically, this means God made two genders and each gender was created in a certain way, although it’s very much open for discussion whether or not that implies a hierarchy of genders.

Feminist theory defines constructivism (or constructionism) as the view that gender is created by culture. That does not mean gender does not exist, although that is a common misunderstanding of constructivism. Things created by culture are very real, and cannot easily be changed: buildings, books, economies, laws, prisons, prizes, even our own names. Theologically, this can mean we are to learn and grow into a predefined godly gender role, or it can mean gender roles are open to debate, criticism and change. A constructivist might stress Genesis 1.26-27 and Galatians 3.28: God made humanity male and female, not male or female, implying a combination or continuum of genders–and even our created gender can be altered by who we become in Jesus Christ.

+ It is snowing lightly this morning but it is expected to pick up this afternoon and get windy as well.  We have been spared a real winter storm until now.