Christianity has been used as a weapon against others, and has been made into a justification for imperialism. The seeds for this are in the Biblical texts themselves. Even in the Gospel of John it is hard not to see a constant us-believers-versus-them (those who reject the believers' assertions). When the conditions were right, the…
Intentions: How I’ll Be Keeping Busy During the Pandemic
The Coronavirus Shutdown In Teaneck, NJ, we are all being told to self-quarantine and all but necessary businesses are closed. Scary stuff. After Teaneck shut down, I was going out of my mind obsessing about the virus. I still am. However, when I severely limit my daily intake of news and articles about the news…
The Second Epistle of Peter and the Epistle of Jude
"This second letter, beloved, I now write to you" — 2 Peter 3:1 Bishop John A.T. Robinson thought this alluded to the earlier Epistle of Jude, not to the First Epistle of Peter as traditionally understood. This would mean that the Second Epistle of Peter was not written by Peter — hence the difference in…
A Confession
I have a confession to make. I am an animist. This may surprise or confuse you since ten days ago I said I was a sister in the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans. At that time I spoke about how the deconstructing of binaries characterizes the gift (or charism) of Francis and Clare to the church…
Sermon at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Maplewood, New Jersey
October 13, 2019 Proper 23, Year C The 18th Sunday after Pentecost Sunday after National Coming Out Day Luke 17:11-19 (the Gospel text) On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy…
Midterm Elections
Tomorrow Americans are going to their polling places to vote. Mr. Trump has usurped the presidency now for two years and we can see clearly what he and his administration is up to. We have also seen, ever since the Supreme Court decided to allow elections to be bought by large corporations and major capitalists,…
“It Shall Not Be Like This Among You”
We become who we are when we realize we belong to the Divine One. When our will belongs to the Divine One, it is finally our own and not anyone else's.
An Afternoon on the Palisades
Yesterday, after a single meal shared between the two of us at Tani's in Englewood, Karen and I went for a late afternoon hike from the Englewood Boat Basin on the Hudson River, up the Dyckman Hill Trail, and then on the Long Path for a short distance (to almost parallel to where Unilever is…
National Coming Out Day
Last night, October 11, 2018, Rabbi Jesse Olitzky hosted an interfaith panel discussion for National Coming Day at Congregation Beth El in South Orange, New Jersey. I was one of three panelists along with Rabbi Abby Stein and Dr. Chris Adamo. It was titled, "Made in the Image and Likeness of God: An Interfaith Discussion…
Mount Tremper
Last night and for the next couple of nights Karen and I are staying up in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, in the town of Mount Tremper. The weather is good and we have plans to go hiking today and tomorrow. Our conversations are still reverberating about Goni and her community in the West…
