Poet Nomi Stone, while studying an ancient Jewish community in Tunisia, also attempted to understand the Muslim neighbors. “Many Scientists Convert to Islam” describes her exploration of Ramadan.
Tag Archives: Religion
Ramadan – The Self Lightens
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Many Scientists Convert to Islam", Islam, Nomi Stone, Ramadan Comments closed
A John Bunyan Defense of Harry Potter
Given how for years we’ve been witnessing certain evangelical Christians criticizing, banning and occasionally burning the Harry Potter books, what are we to make of their inability to appreciate Harry’s Christ-like sacrifice as the end of “The Deathly Hallows”?
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged C. S. Lewis, Christian Right, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J. K. Rowling, John Bunyan, Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Pilgrim's Progress Comments closed
Religion and Self Love
In “Gospel Song,” Scott Bates sees self-interest entering into the motivations of even the holiest of men—King David, Daniel, Jesus and Moses.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Daniel, Francois de la Rouchefoucauld, Jesus, King David, Moses, Scott Bates Comments closed
Jerusalem in a Green and Pleasant Land
William Blake’s “Jerusalem” has been used for both religious and patriotic purposes. One must negotiate the relationship between religion and politics very closely since God can get bent to serve narrow agendas, and this poem is frequently misinterpreted.
When God’s Call Feels Like a Burden
“Collar” works as a triple pun—a clerical collar, a prisoner’s collar, and “choler.” Why, for all that I have done, am I only harvesting a thorn, George Herbert cries out in the poem by that name. Why am I still standing in suit to God when I could simply turn my back on it all?
When God Doesn’t Seem to Be Listening
George Herbert’s frustrations at not communicating with God are understandable because the words we use to pray will always feel inadequate. Rather than this being bad, however, we should learn to be humble. It is good that we feel wounded by our words because it is in our brokenness where we most feel God’s presence.
Touching the Divine through Poetry
Think of religious visionaries as the early poets, those who have found ways to gesture towards (not encapsulate!) the divine. The religious poets who have come after help keep religious language from getting stale.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Defense of Poetry, Fundamentalism, Percy Shelley Comments closed
Pentecost Flames, Fireflies’ Crooked Street
Walcott turns to his Caribbean childhood, spent in Santa Lucia and Trinidad, to find God. It is as though his mind must travel there because he is having trouble hearing God in the cities, with their cold streetlamps lining the regulated sidewalks.
Each Enclosed Spirit Is a Singing Bird
I awoke this beautiful spring morning to hear the birds at full throttle, giving me an excuse to post a wonderful bird poem by Henry Vaughan, the 17th century metaphysical poet.
