The great physicist Niels Bohr famously wrote: “The opposite of a trivial truth is plainly false. The opposite of a great truth is also true.” This is an idea that I have come to appreciate more and more over the years: The opposites of so many basic values are not falsehoods, but equally profound values. … Continue reading Growing with Intention: Positive-Positive Polarities, or, Dialectical Epistemology
Before I moved to Toronto, I used to live in Victoria, a beautiful city on the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island. I often found myself showing visitors around, and one of my favorite things to do with them was to take them to Beacon Hill Park, which offers a beautiful mix of carefully tended flower … Continue reading Growing with Intention: Transcendent Beauty
Throughout history and across religious traditions around the globe, communities have turned to their mystics and masters as the great exemplars of spirituality. While in our culture today, the Buddha or Hindu gurus might come to mind first when we think about this phenomenon, it has historically been true of Christianity as well, whether East … Continue reading Growing with Intention: Mysticism and Meditation
One of the biggest ways my approach to Christianity has changed over the years has been the shift away from theology that focuses primarily on doctrines and ideas towards one that focuses on change and growth in persons and communities. It's not that I no longer uphold those doctrines — far from it. Rather, it's … Continue reading Growing with Intention: An Integral Perspective on Spiritual Growth
I began this series with a personal reflection on the need for an approach to Christianity that is "big enough to encompass all of my own experiences, but also the highs and lows, successes and failures, and future potential of the Christian tradition." Over the past few posts, I have introduced the basic elements of … Continue reading Integral Basics, Part 7: Integrating the Basics
Matthew Root 