We learned about Barbara Brown Taylor's "Leaving Church" and saw very high praise and critical reaction, both popular and by specialists. I read it aloud while Lynn did her jigsaw puzzle. Almost at the time we finished that book, Elizabeth Dias authored the cover story on Time magazine about the woman, her ascent as a Christian preacher and author. Taylor teaches religion at Piedmont College and has several books on various religious subjects.
Many of my friends are atheists, some might be described as "unchurched" or agnostics. Some are Catholics, some Protestants. Some seem strongly repelled by religion or religious language. Personally, I don't like what I consider religious bullying or pressuring, even when someone is doing the bullying or pressuring for the sake of saving "souls". I have lots of respect for the other tasks religions try to accomplish: trying to help people to a good and moral life of joy,love, compassion and kindness. So, I respect all religions and those who practice them, with a few conditions or limitations.
Meanwhile, somewhere I read about Jack Kornfield, Elisha Goldstein and Sharon Salzburg and their efforts to expand familiarity and use of Buddhist concepts in the US. I think the book "Bringing Home the Dharma" by Kornfield was my main source. I have read a considerable amount of Kornfield but only a little of Goldstein. I thought it was time for me to try to get some familiarity with Salzburg so I have begun her book "Faith".
Both of these women have a great deal of value in what they say. Both of them are in their 60's so they are old enough to know life and themselves. You can look on Twitter (@olderkirby) in my tweets to see several from the early parts of each book. You can also find me and comments on those books on kindle.amazon.com
Brown Taylor emphasizes what she calls the value of darkness, as mentioned in the title "Learning to Walk in the Dark". She says it is ok to seek enLIGHTenment but it is also wise to seek enDARKment. She notes that religion and philosophy use seeking the light, looking for light, asking for light as images and goals. Buddhism starts with the premise "Life is suffering", that suffering of all sort is logically and totally unavoidable so seeking too rigorously to avoid all suffering is futile. Taylor takes the position that there is value in the dark and that one can learn to find and appreciate that value.
Salzburg emphasizes that like St. Paul, the Buddha asked people to test his ideas, to put them to the test and check them out. She explains how faith that emerges from carefully and rigorously questioned doctrine, beliefs and ideas tends to be stronger and better grounded than that which tries or is commanded to simply accept and obey.
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Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
