Category Archives: Integral Spirituality

Integral spirituality meets religious education for kids, by Lauren Zinn at ZinnHouse.

3 New Buzzwords Changing Religion — Buzzword #1: INTEGRAL

Evolutionary Spirituality, For Religious Educators, Integral Spirituality, Interfaith Children, Interfaith Education, Interspiritual, Jewish-Interfaith, Spiritual Growth for Kids, , , , , , , , , , , ,

PREVIEW. I’m sitting on the floor, a foot from the TV, turning channels. There is no remote, no recording device. An animated figure appears on the screen. The narrator explains it will experience eight significant crises in its lifetime. Each will occur around a major developmental issue such as trust, identity, intimacy, etc., according to psychologist, Erik Erikson. I SPRINT for pen and paper. AHA! The key to my future. If I study these stages of development, I’ll be prepared for Life. I am 14. And I want to know more.

What other life maps are out there to show what lies ahead?

Erikson's stages of growth Continue reading 3 New Buzzwords Changing Religion — Buzzword #1: INTEGRAL →

The Evolutionary Vision of Jodorowsky’s Dune

Evolutionary Spirituality, Integral Spirituality, Interspiritual, Movies on Faith & Spirituality, Spiritual Growth for Kids, , , , , ,

Photo of a ticket for a reserved seat to see Jodorowsky's DuneAfter watching a documentary called Jodorowsky’s Dune, my “film major” husband announced, “You have to watch this movie. It will blow your mind.” And so I did. And he was right. This is one of those films that raises our consciousness about raising our consciousness. For this reason, hosting a Movie Night with this film is worth it. In fact, I’m giving you my Movie Night! Guide for discussing this film. Invite your family, friends, students, or community to watch. The Guide is FREE for the next two weeks. Here’s a brief review of the film and why you’ll want to show it. Continue reading The Evolutionary Vision of Jodorowsky’s Dune →

A Seminary Stands Up, Out, and For All Faiths

Conversations with Leaders, Evolutionary Spirituality, Integral Spirituality, Interfaith Education, Interfaith Inspiration, , , , , , , , ,

photo-pillarsBaton Rouge. Minneapolis. Dallas.
We need REAL social change now more than ever. But how?

Let me backtrack to a social change event where Cornel West, the prominent African American scholar, was the main speaker. There, he recalled these words of Paolo Freire, author of Pedagogy of the Oppressed:

No social change movement is ever successful without the support of religious leaders and their communities.

If this is true, and we’re serious about social justice, then shouldn’t we help our spiritual leaders to be good at it? By good, I mean not only effective at motivating congregants to rise up for social change — since many do, but also effective at securing change in policy and law. Today, that is exactly what Auburn Seminary is up to. Continue reading A Seminary Stands Up, Out, and For All Faiths →

Why I’m Coming Out as a Religion Teacher Who Doesn’t Teach Religion

Evolutionary Spirituality, For Religious Educators, Integral Spirituality, Interfaith Children, Interfaith Education, Interfaith Inspiration, Interspiritual, Jewish-Interfaith, Spiritual Growth for Kids, , ,

Photograph of 8 hands in the air with thumbs up. Behind the hair, skin, gender, status, culture, class, language, fashion, and faith, who am I?

I am my message. I am the unique world-view I’m yearning to share. But — I’ve been scratching at its surface, poking around the edges, unwilling to fully embrace it. Why?  Continue reading Why I’m Coming Out as a Religion Teacher Who Doesn’t Teach Religion →

Bet You CAN Learn Hegel on Hanukkah

Evolutionary Spirituality, Integral Spirituality, Interfaith Education, Interfaith Holidays, Jewish-Interfaith, , , , , ,

drawing of HegelI know. Hanukkah passed. But the season of darkness hasn’t. Now that you aren’t distracted by dreidels, light eight candles anyway. For the Light.

 

You heard of Hegel. The German idealist (1770-1831). Whose writing is so dense even philosophers have trouble understanding him. Whose name is associated with the “dialectic”. (Go ahead. Say it. dīəˈlektik. It’s fun.) How can Hanukkah help us interpret Hegel?

Continue reading Bet You CAN Learn Hegel on Hanukkah →

“Caravan of No Despair” by Mirabai Starr

Books on Faith and Spirituality, Integral Spirituality, Interfaith Inspiration, Jewish-Interfaith, ,

book cover for Caravan of No DespairWhen I met Mirabai Starr at an Interspiritual Conference in Arizona, I got the cliff-note version of her now latest book, Caravan of No Despair. This 275 page edition of her spiritual transformation fueled by her daughter’s death invites readers through her darkest despair as she holds our hands through the process.
 Continue reading “Caravan of No Despair” by Mirabai Starr →