Author Archives: Jon Lindgren

I think I’ve attended only three or four funerals of unbelievers and presided over one.  I always assumed such funerals would be whatever the friends and relatives involved wanted since no uniform ceremony exists. That turns out not to be the case in England.  According … Continue reading →

Recently, a couple of people sent me little booklets with scriptural reading for each day. People have sent me these before.  Actually reading the scriptures is less interesting then trying to get into the heads of the people who market these booklets. The Bible … Continue reading →

Was it Eve’s original sin that started Chirstianity or was it when Jesus died on the cross to fix things? The answer seems so simply, it’s hard to understand why it is even debated.  The legend of Eve’s sin still … Continue reading →

Many of the good people whom I like personally have recommended I read certain passages of scripture to help me on my path of life.  I appreciate their concern for both myself and others who are skeptical. There are many examples I … Continue reading →

I not sure I know any “militant atheists”.  To me a militant atheist would be someone who inserted uninvited atheist ideology into the everyday life of people who had no desire to hear it. In fact I would call any group who … Continue reading →

This week’s New Yorker includes a story about one of industry’s “wise men”, Clayton Christensen.  He noticed decades ago industries, and firms within industries, follow a pattern of dominating, then disappearing. His example is the U. S. steel industry and its … Continue reading →

I read something today that reminded me of a piece by George Wills 30 some years ago.  It has to do with the way U. S. Presidents present their ideas. Before Reagan, liberals had a monopoly on idealistic talk.  It was … Continue reading →

Cock fighting is a sport where a spur on the rooster’s leg is clipped off and a sharp piece of knife blade is attached.  The roosters cut each other until one dies. The sport is popular in the Bible Belt.  … Continue reading →

There is increasing interest in the question of why some people can connect with the spiritual world and others cannot.  More precisely, it is about why some say they can and others say they cannot. I discussed some weeks ago the socialization required … Continue reading →

I’m indebted to Father Herbel for steering me toward the book, American Religion, by Mark Chaves.  The book takes on a big task, trying to figure out what is going on. There is not one source of reliable data on church … Continue reading →