On Prayer
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10 Simple Ways to Mark Darwin’s Birthday
By Wendy Thomas Russell | February 11, 2013
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Evolution, or the process by which living organisms change over time, was not discovered by Charles Darwin. But he certainly gave the theory its street cred. By introducing natural selection — the idea that organisms best suited to survive in their particular circumstances have a greater chance of passing their traits on to the next generation — Darwin gave us a plausible mechanism by which evolution could take place. And that made all the difference. Darwin’s 1859 book On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection was the most groundbreaking biological theory the world had ever seen. And it remains [...] Read more – ‘10 Simple Ways to Mark Darwin’s Birthday’.
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When ‘I’m Praying for You’ Feels Like an Insult
By Wendy Thomas Russell | December 15, 2011
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On Monday, I wrote about how, in times of panic or grave concern, I will sometimes clasp my hands together, bow my head and express my deep hope for the safety of my loved ones. It’s prayer without religion. Like throwing a penny into a fountain or wishing on a star — but more deeply felt, more adamant, more serious. I know there is no power in wishing. Some wishes come true; some do not. There may be disappointment in experiencing the latter – but not surprise. Still, wishing gives voice to our hopes and [...] Read more – ‘When ‘I’m Praying for You’ Feels Like an Insult’.
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When the Godless Pray
By Wendy Thomas Russell | December 12, 2011
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A few days before Christmas last year, my mother’s appendix burst. The hospital was two hours away, and by the time she arrived there, she was in bad shape. She underwent an emergency appendectomy and a grueling week in recovery, which damn near killed her. A week later came the pneumonia. It was a scary time for my family — very scary. Everyone knew it wasn’t her time to go, and yet this series of events seemed to be spinning her toward the end. So what did I do? I prayed. I remember getting the news in [...] Read more – ‘When the Godless Pray’.
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Thanksgiving ‘Prayers’ for Secular Families
By Wendy Thomas Russell | November 24, 2011
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I recently became a member of a Facebook group called Mothers Beyond Belief, sort of an offshoot of Dale McGowan’s Parenting Beyond Belief community. It’s an online support group for secular moms. So last week the mother of a 5-year-old shared that her daughter wanted to say a “pray” before meals. The family doesn’t believe, and therefore doesn’t pray, so the mom was looking for other things the family could say instead. I loved the question, especially in light of this particular holiday. Thanksgiving dinner is one of those meals so extraordinary that it practically [...] Read more – ‘Thanksgiving ‘Prayers’ for Secular Families’.
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