Vedanta, Metamodernism, and the Future of Western Spirituality

neon "buy" sign in front of american flag

Many students of the Western humanities are familiar with modernism and its historical response, postmodernism. But what comes after postmodernism? Some cultural theorists have proposed a synthesis of modernism and postmodernism that includes both but simultaneously transcends them. This transcendental-synthetic project is called metamodernism. In this essay, I will argue that the Hindu philosophy of … Read more

Sri Ramakrishna, Jesus Christ, and the New Age of Incarnation

picture of Sri Ramakrishna in samadhi

Richard Richard writes in his book The Universal Christ that modern Christianity is in a crisis and part of that crisis is lacking a sufficiently incarnational theology of Christ. For too long Christians have thought of God’s incarnation as localized only to 33 years of humanity in the life of a certain Jesus of Nazareth, … Read more

Soul or No-Soul? Advaita Vedanta and the Metaphysics of Self

Statue of eyeball

This essay is about Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism. Let me state at the outset that I am not an expert on either one, so any mistakes in understanding are entirely my own. According to my understanding, Advaita Vedanta states that (1) There is a True Self or Soul (The Atman) (2) This True Self is … Read more

Christianity and Zen: On Being at Home in Paradox

Zen

Can one be a Christian and also be a Zen Buddhist? One might think insofar as “Buddhism” and “Christianity” share a different set of doctrines and traditions that Christianity and Zen are mutually exclusive conceptual systems. However, Christianity and Zen actually have a lot in common which you strip Christianity of its doctrinal and liturgical … Read more

Can You be a Christian and Believe in Astrology?

Astrology

Many Christians are wondering: can you be a Christian and believe in astrology? In short, yes. You can be a Christian and believe in quite a number of things like astrology, Tarot, crystals, etc. But isn’t that pagan and against God? Doesn’t the Bible say things like divination and “sorcery” are forbidden? There are definitely … Read more

Why I Read The Bible After Deconstruction

The Bible

“The Bible.” Just that phrase is enough to invoke an involuntary gag on my part, slightly disgusted at all the baggage it inherits from the particularly noxious American (and Southern) brand of toxic, evangelical Christianity I grew up with. There are two basic approaches to “The Bible”: one is faith-based, the other is…more critical, for … Read more

What Is Daimonic Psychology? A Guide to Guardian Angels

Guardian Angel

What is Daimonic psychology? It is the study of the phenomenon of people reporting the presence of “personal guardian spirits,” a phenomenon that has been attested cross-culturally for thousands of years. In the Christian tradition, we call them “Guardian Angels.” “God Himself begins to live in me not only as my Creator but as my … Read more

Why I am Still Searching for the Truth (and glad for it)

telescope searching

“Most everyone is searching for their field of truth, where they can replant withering roots, so they wither no more.” ~Garry Fitchett This quote is typical in the realm of philosophy, theology, and metaphysics. The assumption is that so long as you are still searching, your roots are withering. In this essay, I will attempt … Read more