Thursday, October 09, 2003

I just started a class called Buddhist Meditation for Christians.  Here is the website. I did this because of two pieces about meditation recently:  The New York Times Magazine article about how meditation changes your brain in lasting ways. and on MPR's Speaking of Faith piece about a bunch of cops from a small city that went on a meditation retreat. I am a complete neophyte, but let me tell you I was completely stressed out and depressed driving to work today so I pulled over and tried to meditate for about 5 minutes and it completely altered my personality.  I walked into the building literally weeping tears of joy. 3:04:09 PM    comment []

Here is the story about the Vatican's statements and a note about an upcomming radio show where it will be aired fully. And here is an excerpt: The Catholic Church is telling people in countries stricken by Aids not to use condoms because they have tiny holes in them through which the HIV virus can pass - potentially exposing thousands of people to risk. The church is making the claims across four continents despite a widespread scientific consensus that condoms are impermeable to the HIV virus. A senior Vatican spokesman backs the claims about permeable condoms, despite assurances by the World Health Organisation that they are untrue. Actually, after I have paused to consider the lives ruined by thousands of priests in Africa spreading this message, I have to see the potential here:  This is a denial of science on the level of Vatican v. Galileo.  Either the Vatican will stick to its guns and defend this statement and wound itself further or it will reverse itself and say that condoms might be a positive thing in this world. 10:40:51 AM    comment []

I am trying to operate under the assumption that the Catholic Church is mostly a force for good with some serious problems, but this post on My Life in The Bush of Ghosts forces me to consider that it might be a serious problem with a few good things happening in spite of its nature. 10:21:21 AM    comment []