Unlike the wildly popular mindfulness app called Headspace, Christianity can’t be packaged, promoted, or marketed. It’s already every human being’s birthright.
"We are not wrong when we ask why God might allow tragedies to happen, but we must find faith in the one who holds it all in his hands... This is cloudy and difficult for us, as it should be—we should never be comfortable with the ever present reality of evil and its fruit. But we must remember who has ultimate authority. God is always at work in the darkness. His sometimes silence should not be interpreted as apathy or disinterest." [Read Article]
"Trauma too often leaves us estranged from self, family and a future in an unsafe place. For many, spirituality and/or a community of believers offer that home. Spirituality and religion offer the bridge to reconnection with the essential goodness of self and others, an appreciation of life, reunion with nature and a reason to hope." [Read Article]
"To those who are devoutly religious, the pope's U.S. trip presents a unique opportunity to get papal blessings, receive mercy and feel closer to God. But even those devoted Catholics who aren’t in the front row seat for Francis' visit may see benefits to their belief. A slew of research has tied being religious with better well-being and overall mental health." [Read Article]
"Teshuvah ... is typically translated as 'repentance', but it actually means 'to return.' Teshuvah is not simply about guilt, or coming clean – ultimately it’s about shedding those barriers that block our pure soul, revealing our true nature, and returning to the most elevated aspect of ourselves." [Read Article]
His presence at Mass hyper-focused my attention. I saw in a whole new way how in the Penitential Rite we establish why we've come. We're all sinners. We're all broken.
"If you find yourself fearful, consumed with worry, unsure how to prepare, unable to sleep, you need to stop reading all this stuff and get back to reading the Bible and the Spiritual classics... Focus on God’s power, how He intervened in the Old Testament for His people. Remember His mercies and His love for us. Get to know Jesus in a more personal way as your savior, as your friend. Take His mother as your own. Be not afraid but trust. As St. Padre Pio, a modern mystic and saint said so well “'Pray, hope [trust], and don’t worry.'” [Read Article]
Positive psychology helps us to see that the Christian way in its fullness, even in its sacrifices for love, is a path to happiness, fulfillment, and joy.
"I’ve been told by fans that God gave me the strength to overcome my childhood so I can help others, He gave me the gift of writing so I could put my life on paper and share it with the world to help those that needed it the most… If you are a believer and feel lost, trust me, He’s there. He just doesn’t show up in the ways we always expect." [Read Article]
"Savin-Williams explains that teens who come out to their Christian parents are generally treated just as well, if not better, than kids who come out to other types of parents. In fact, he finds that it is often parents’ Christian theology that contributes to a caring—though often difficult and awkward—interaction and navigation through this news... [T]here is typically a promise of unconditional love and comfort for the child, even while the parents themselves wobble through coming to terms with this startling news." [Read Article]
Dr. Paul Vitz is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at New York University, and Senior Scholar/Professor at the Institute for the Psychological Sciences.
Dr. ... Read More ...
