SUNDAY LECTURE | Speaking of the God Who Cannot Be Spoken Of

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for May 19, 2024

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Dear Ones -

The mystics of all the living religious traditions say, in one way or the other, that finding one’s “true self” is also finding “god.” Last week I talked about one way of gaining an understanding of human development and our identity. This week I turned that coin over to examine the matter of “god.” I began with the well-known line from the Christian mystic, Meister Eckhart, who prayed, “God, rid me of God.” We do not master “god talk.” Rather, “god talk” masters us. Because God is not reducible to understanding, a wise and useful theology will have plenty of room for doubt, ambiguity, and mystery. After elaborating on this, I conclude that when it comes to God we have nothing to say and that we must not be ashamed or hesitant to say it.

That’s a brief summary of this week’s time in Ordinary Life.

The audio version of the talk has some differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and the audio version of the talk using the links below.

Our podcast, “In Between,” can be accessed through the Ordinary Life web site.

If you would like to know how to make a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here for video instructions.

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to read or download the text of the talk, click here.

In order to view or download the presentation slides, click here.

In order to view or download the announcement slides, click here.

To download or listen to today’s talk, use the audio player below.

To watch the video of today’s talk, use the YouTube player below.

SUNDAY LECTURE | Authenticity and Courage

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for May 24, 2024

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Dear Ones -

This week in Ordinary Life I attempted to explain, or at least amplify on, what is meant by the phrases “authentic existence” and “the courage to be.” Though all teaching is somewhat autobiographical, this talk is especially so. I share how I was found by these phrases. In the process I talk about developmental psychology and, then, from a deconstructionist point of view, the ambiguity involved in ever knowing who we are. I see this ambiguity as hopeful. Then I talked about how I developed the phrase that such authentic and courageous living means being involved in the process of becoming centers of freedom and love.

That’s a brief summary of this week’s time in Ordinary Life.

The audio version of the talk has some differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and the audio version of the talk using the links below.

Our podcast, “In Between,” can be accessed through the Ordinary Life web site.

If you would like to know how to make a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here for video instructions.

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to read or to download the text of the talk, click here.

In order to view or download the presentation slides, click here.

In order to view or download the announcement slides, click here.

To download or listen to the audio recording of today’s talk, use the audio player below.

To watch the video of today’s talk, click on the YouTube link below.

WEEKLY PODCAST | In Between.159

We are tussling through the book What to Believe by John Caputo. It contains 12 lessons on deconstructing and reconstructing ideas about God. He starts by talking about what he’s carrying in his religious satchel as he engages this conversation. He grew up Catholic, wanted to enter the priesthood, and at some point went, “Wait, what? Who is this God i am asked to belive in?”

Bill is further along in the book than I am, but he keeps dropping seeds, one of which is: “The event by which I become myself and the event by which God becomes God are the same.” Co-evolution. Very Meister Eckhart-y. There is no elsewhere to go but right here, inside and in between. It relates, I think, to healing from the inside out. Zooming way out, I want to hope that evolution - in which we participate - is heading toward union. When I zoom in it is hard, at times, to separate the hurtful, divisive acts of our very human existence from that hope for union. And yet, these are the opposites to hold!

Thanks for listening!