I can promise it’s the LW-iest book you’ve got to read on prayer, so, if you want to better understand a religious friend or have some ways to open a conversation, you might like it. Plus it cites Ender’s Game and Terry Pratchett.
I had to learn prayer in the language of reference I spoke, so my chapter on Confession has a big section on the Sunk Cost Fallacy, and how it makes us afraid to make our sins “real” by acknowledging them. The chapter on Mass explains the communion of saints by referring to cartesian coordinate systems and explaining how people can all be aligned along one dimension of interest.
I had a great time writing this, and, I should mention, Beeminder helped me pull it off!
With regard to the theological differences, the Orthodox and Catholic churches agree on most of the big things for day-to-day things (sacraments, etc) and, although there are disagreements (the filioque, etc) they’re more the kind of thing I’d need to get a theology degree in order to sort out for myself.
I think they’re all pretty exciting! Different forms of monasticism suit different people (and are vulnerable to different forms of doing them wrong) but I’m pretty happy to live in a world with chatty Dominicans wandering and teaching, contemplative orders meditating, etc.
I published a book! And Amazon ran out on the second day of it’s release!
My book, Arriving At Amen: Seven Catholic Prayers that Even I Can Offer explains how I learned seven kinds of Catholic prayer after conversion.
I can promise it’s the LW-iest book you’ve got to read on prayer, so, if you want to better understand a religious friend or have some ways to open a conversation, you might like it. Plus it cites Ender’s Game and Terry Pratchett.
I had to learn prayer in the language of reference I spoke, so my chapter on Confession has a big section on the Sunk Cost Fallacy, and how it makes us afraid to make our sins “real” by acknowledging them. The chapter on Mass explains the communion of saints by referring to cartesian coordinate systems and explaining how people can all be aligned along one dimension of interest.
I had a great time writing this, and, I should mention, Beeminder helped me pull it off!
Congratulations!
Leah, do you have any views on Orthodox Christianity?
I really liked some of the discussion of Orthodox spirituality in The Mountain of Silence.
With regard to the theological differences, the Orthodox and Catholic churches agree on most of the big things for day-to-day things (sacraments, etc) and, although there are disagreements (the filioque, etc) they’re more the kind of thing I’d need to get a theology degree in order to sort out for myself.
Thanks for the book recommendation and your quick answer!
What do you think about differences in the monastic traditions?
I think they’re all pretty exciting! Different forms of monasticism suit different people (and are vulnerable to different forms of doing them wrong) but I’m pretty happy to live in a world with chatty Dominicans wandering and teaching, contemplative orders meditating, etc.