Common Directions

As an activist, I have often asked myself (and others) of what the end goals are of the activities in which I engage. Now, for many of us involved in what is sometimes referred to as “politics with a small ‘p,’ ” these activities carry with them a range of different methods, applications, and purposes. [...]

All we need is your credit card number, your social security, and your soul…

Okay, something has been occurring to me lately. Though this is not a topic I have thoroughly researched, I have been thinking on the idea that much of what we perceive to be “happiness” in this Western society is often not naturally formulated on an individual basis, but rather dictated to us by corporations. As [...]

New Monasticism

As I’m given to understand it, “new monasticism” is the commitment to seeking after a more thought-out, prayerful, contemplative, and peaceful life, with these 12 guidelines:

1. Relocation to the abandoned places of Empire.
2. Sharing economic resources with fellow community members and the needy among us.
3. Hospitality to the stranger.
4. Lament for racial divisions within the [...]