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

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Summary for September 22, 2019

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Dear Folks -

For several years now l have gotten questions about the relationship between the liturgy we use at St. Paul’s, and in other places as well, and its connection to or relationship with the insights we have been gaining from the new insights in science, cosmology, evolution, etc. These questions and statements range all the way from “You have ruined ‘big church’ for me” to “How can you teach what you do and still be involved in that liturgy that uses a creed from the fourth century?" This talk, and the one next week, is an attempt to respond to this. I called the talk -

“Walking in Bigger Shoes”

I got that phrase from the works of Carl Jung. We don’t still wear the clothes we wore in the eighth grade. We shouldn’t be wearing the religious or spiritual beliefs and values from then either.

It is my intention to speak, in summary fashion, about tradition, ritual, myth and meaning. The talk this week is about tradition and ritual. How do religions get created and what makes them viable or not? Tradition is not merely holding on to the past but continuing the identity of the past with the language and symbols of the present. I try to show that there are resources of and for transformation in religious tradition and ritual.

That is a very brief summary of the talk I offered this week in Ordinary Life. As is often the case, I think the audio version is different and, I think, better than the text.

You can read or download the text from which I spoke and view the presentation slides using the links below.

If you are reading this, I want you to know how grateful I am for and to you.

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

To read or download the text of the talk, click here.

To view or download the presentation slides, click here.

To listen to or download the audio version of the talk, use the link below.