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What's the best introduction to Dorothy Day's thoughts and work? [more inside]
posted by wenestvedt at 6:29 PM - 5 answers

"Not every day can be a hot fudge sundae". Have you ever heard this? I know I didn't make it up. [more inside]
posted by lovableiago at 10:09 AM - 3 answers

Basically, I want to do a deep dive on Amish philosophy and theology - is there a Thing I Must Read? Is there a(n) Augustine/Calvin/Lewis/Rob Bell of the Amish? (I'm much more interested in things written _by_ them than _about_ them.)
posted by hishtafel at 7:55 PM - 3 answers

How can I help my daughter work though her philosophical crisis? [more inside]
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 3:03 AM - 25 answers

I'd like to know more about Athanasius Kircher's work connecting eastern and western religions. But Kircher's extraordinary breadth makes it hard to zero in on any one aspect. [more inside]
posted by Quisp Lover at 10:52 AM - 1 answers

I'm vegan. I buy my clothes and shoes second hand. I don't have air conditioning. You get the picture. Still, I sometimes feel like I can't get through a day without harming the planet or exploiting people. How do you maintain your ethics in this global capitalist economy? [more inside]
posted by probably not that Karen Blair at 1:03 PM - 37 answers

I got myself this neat pendant, but I'm a little worried someone might look at it and think it means something it doesn't. When you look at it, what do you think it means? Spoilers inside. [more inside]
posted by The otter lady at 5:59 PM - 31 answers

I'm dealing with a situation in which a couple has asserted (as a defense) that children are the property of their parents. This assertion is often made in conflicts of medical ethics, such as Christian Scientists vs medical caregivers. I think that Mennonites and Amish may actually teach that children are their parents' property. Does anyone have more information on this, specifically whether the Jehovah Witness religion teaches this?
posted by mmiddle at 1:39 PM - 14 answers

Hi folks. I have always read quite a bit, but once upon a time (in university) was way more on the critical theory/philosophy kick. In the spirit of new beginnings, I have been trying to delve into lots of old pastimes/skills/etc. recently, and I told myself instead of a novel I'd pick up one of my philosophy texts sitting around to get back into the swing of things. [more inside]
posted by parkbench at 10:57 AM - 4 answers

My mom has returned to the Catholic church after many years and is very enthusiastic about it. I would like to get her a Mother's Day gift that supports this interest but am pretty lost about what to get. I think that a lot of Jesuit writings resonate with her. She likes religious iconography. Um, and that's all I've got. I'm looking for gift suggestions that go beyond "nice Bible" or "rosary"--something she wouldn't think of herself.
posted by HotToddy at 4:00 PM - 29 answers

I read a quote recently, and cannot find it again. It was in an article or interview about better worlds, about the possibility of utopia. And the person writing/being interviewed quoted another thinker's doctrine, something like: "A possible world is only worth considering if it is better regardless of who you are in that world." [more inside]
posted by 0bvious at 4:30 AM - 3 answers

My UU church has a women's group - each month one attendee volunteers to host. The host provides some food, comes up with the topic or activity for the group, and kind of "leads" on the night. I am hosting next month's meeting and I have no idea what to do...help? [more inside]
posted by cpatterson at 8:32 AM - 20 answers

Looking for brief, chill, mettabhavana (lovingkindness) meditations. What are your favorites? More inside. [more inside]
posted by Sheydem-tants at 7:18 AM - 2 answers

I enjoy reading philosophy after a “tall glass of water” or two, but more in the vein of Sartre’s “Being and Nothingness” than Kant or Hegel. [more inside]
posted by stoneandstar at 10:36 AM - 31 answers

My best friend is going through some hardship. I'm trying to help her find relatable, inspirational, spiritual books about dealing with depression. Details inside. [more inside]
posted by landunderwave at 5:48 PM - 8 answers

When I visited Tallinn, Estonia, I photographed some of the mosaics on the exterior of the 1901 Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral. The mosaics depict saints. Next to their images are their names in Cyrillic text that includes letters from the early Cyrillic alphabet. Translating early Cyrillic is beyond my minimal level of expertise in the Russian language. However, I'd like to know who I photographed, so if anyone here is handy with this form of Russian, a translation would be much appreciated. Here is the photo:
posted by A. Davey at 9:44 AM - 4 answers

It's from one of the Greek philosophers or historians I seem to recall. Not only can't I recall the author, I can't recall the exact wording. [more inside]
posted by zenpop at 10:52 AM - 7 answers

Can you recommend a podcast that consists of good recordings of sermons? My girlfriend missed Episcopal services this morning and would like a replacement. [more inside]
posted by pretentious illiterate at 9:15 AM - 5 answers

What are things the exist and don't exist at the same time? [more inside]
posted by TheGoodBlood at 9:25 PM - 47 answers

Help me find a jewish day school for my niece and nephew. [more inside]
posted by fantasticness at 10:08 AM - 9 answers