Van Gennep himself defined rites de passage as “rites which accompany every change of place, state, social position and age.” To point up the contrast between “state” and “transition,” I employ “state” to include all his other terms. It is a more inclusive concept than “status” or “office,” and refers to any type of stable … Continue reading Forsaken Separation
Two Sacrifices, One Death: Isaac and the Suffering Servant
Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth;like a lamb … Continue reading Two Sacrifices, One Death: Isaac and the Suffering Servant
All COVID Souls
Who mourns the dead? They’re numbers on a screen. The dead no longer have the dignity of being dead. “It’s no worse than the flu” they say. “The death count is inflated” they say. “99 percent of cases are totally harmless” they say. Will skeptics mourn the dead? Dismissed, doubted, denied. These dead don’t fit … Continue reading All COVID Souls
let us pray
our motherfathers who artwith us heretherehallowed be our namestrevorjacksuzannemarcellisahmaudbreonnageorgewalterrayshardbelovedbelovedbelovedon these all hallows days of commemorationa triduum of death we know notit is life we remembertheir eyes openawakesleepingpeering into our heartsare thankful for their having madeand making a difference in our liveseven now their presenceessencelighting the sky every morning and eveningwe are on the threshold ofsoul-lightthe … Continue reading let us pray
All Souls and All Saints: Remembrance, Grief and Loss in 2020
I live and work as a Chaplain in Melbourne, Australia. We have consistently been voted one of the most livable cities in the world, but 2020 has been hard on us as it has on everyone across the globe. In January our city watched in horror as an estimated 3 billion animals burned in bushfires … Continue reading All Souls and All Saints: Remembrance, Grief and Loss in 2020
Liminal Theology 