There’s a famous moment in the classic ‘nineties movie A Few Good Men when a military leader, played by Jack Nicholson, screams “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!” As much as that character is an antagonist in the film, he hit on something true. We all say we want openness, honesty, and … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: The Nimbus on the Uncanny and Transcendent
Every now and then, when I have a couple weeks to spare in between series, I take the opportunity to talk about books, and specifically the spiritual themes in them. As I like to say, as much as a good novel entertains us, it also gives us a window into something true about the human … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: Fifteen Dogs on the Tragedy of Human Nature
It seems that we int he West are in a period of structural dissolution. We have a political and social Right that is tearing down the establishment, a Centre trying to prop it up, and Left that has big ideas but which is increasingly marginalized from the conversation. This makes it an anxious time. And … Continue reading Stone from Stone: A Reflection on Luke 21.5-19
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been looking at some of the basics of Buddhist teaching as a kind of mirror to help us better understand our own Christian faith. Today’s final post will explore one final Buddhist concept, the bodhisattva, which I think will provide a perfect summary for the series as a whole. … Continue reading For the Life of the World: Bodhisattvas and the Incarnation
Last time, we saw how in Buddhist thought, both the capstone and cornerstone of the Eightfold Path is the idea of right concentration: it’s the cornerstone because it’s necessary for any and all of the other steps of the path; it’s the capstone because it also refers to the ultimate fulfillment of the path. But … Continue reading The Buddha Within, The Christ Within
Matthew Root 