Category Archives: Religion

The Problem of having no religious outlook

Posted on June 22, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

Karl Jung, one of the fathers of modern psychology, said, ‘People from all civilized countries of the earth have consulted me. I have treated many hundreds of patients. Among all my patients in the second half of life – that … Continue reading →

Posted in emptiness, God shaped holes, Healing, Religion | Leave a comment

The common denominator between IS and Mao

Posted on November 18, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

The massacres related to Islamic extremism cause many to think that if we do away with religion then wars would cease. But what they fail to see is that the last century was the bloodiest in history, and that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Religion, War, Wickedness | Leave a comment

The Myth of Religious Violence

Posted on April 18, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

It’s widely thought that religion is the major cause of war. However, William T. Cavanaugh, in his book, The Myth of Religious Violence, points out how superficial this perception is. Indeed, the authoritative Encyclopedia of War reports that of all … Continue reading →

Posted in Loving your enemies, Religion, War | Tagged | Leave a comment

‘What about us?’

Posted on March 29, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

An Army chaplain I know took part in a battle simulation exercise prior to his unit deploying overseas. He entered a tent where four supposed bodies were lying, and checked their identification discs. Two indicated the wearers had religious affiliations … Continue reading →

Posted in Indifference, Prayer, Religion | Leave a comment

Pillars going nowhere

Posted on April 11, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

When Sir Christopher Wren designed the interior of the Windsor Town Hall in 1689, he built a ceiling supported by several pillars. However, when the town’s aldermen inspected the finished building, they decided the ceiling would not stay up, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogma, love, Loving God, Loving other people, Religion | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

We were created to believe

Posted on March 14, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A century ago many people believed that human enlightenment would eventually banish religious belief. But it hasn’t happened, and this has caused some researchers, like Bruce Hood, professor of developmental psychology at Bristol University, to think that belief in God … Continue reading →

Posted in Agnosticism, Atheism, Believing, Eternity, Faith, God, Religion | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Do what comes naturally

Posted on October 18, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Jean McMahon, writing in the Reader’s Digest, described a church service in Kentucky, where she watched an irate father carry a boisterous child out of the service, slung under his arm. No one so much as raised an eyebrow — … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Religion, Spiritual Insight, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Missing the point

Posted on August 29, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

I heard about a woman telling her friends about the value of a first-aid class she had completed. ‘Just yesterday, she said, ‘I was driving down the main street when I heard this awful crash. I slammed on the brakes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Compassion, Doing what has to be done, Religion, Self Deception, Sympathy and Support, True and False Religion | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Pain – ‘God’s Megaphone’

Posted on March 26, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s nothing that challenges faith in a loving God more than the problem of pain. C.S. Lewis said that of all the things that come to us in life, pain is the one thing guaranteed to get our attention. Joys … Continue reading →

Posted in angry with God, Discernment, Encouragement, Faith, God, Grace, Hope, Life's journey, Living Life, Pain, pilgrimage, Religion, Spiritual Insight, Trials and testings, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Religion and War

Posted on March 24, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

It’s often claimed that if we could rid the world of religion we’d rid the world of war. Well, the past century has certainly demonstrated the naivety of that idea. The Twentieth Century produced something totally new in human history … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Discernment, Hatred, Injustice, Power over People, Religion, Self Deception, Spiritual discernment, True and False Religion, War, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment