To be fair, I’ve cracked up during meditation plenty of times. Still it’s funny to see Daisy Duke lose it in front of a Thai monk.

Sojourners has set up a way to “report” ourselves to the appropriate authorities if we espouse social justice in our interpretation of sacred scripture.

Feel free to join me. Here’s my report:

Dear Mr. Beck,

I’m a Buddhist who believes in the compassionate call to social justice upon which so many historical wisdom traditions base their teachings.

I stand in support of the traditions of the Hindu, Muslim, Hebrew, Buddhist and Christian prophets that echo the teaching of an infinite intention for justice in every aspect of our individual, social, and economic lives. Practicing this intention, after all, helps us embody the most sacred of all spiritual teaching, regardless of tradition.

With this in mind, I hereby “report” myself to you, and promise to report myself to the appropriate organizational authorities. I hope you’ll be hearing from them as well.

Sincerely,

Michael McAlister

This is interesting. I’ve always thought that a commitment to social justice was at the core of Christian (as well as other) spiritual teaching. At least that’s what Thomas Aquinas seems to point out in his writing.

Perhaps Beck has something on Aquinas.

Money quote:

On his radio program, Fox News’ Glenn Beck encouraged listeners to leave their church if it proclaims a concern for social justice:

I’m begging you, your right to religion and freedom to exercise religion and read all of the passages of the Bible as you want to read them and as your church wants to preach them . . . are going to come under the ropes in the next year. If it lasts that long it will be the next year. I beg you, look for the words ’social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!”

You can listen for yourself here.

Click on the player below, in order to listen to Michael’s talk.
Get the most recent iTunes software and subscribe to this podcast from the Buddhist and/or Philosophy sections of the Religion & Spirituality list.
____

In this talk, Michael talks about the guidance offered by the famed Heart Sutra, and uses its closing words to illustrate the Path.

ISmile243 - Realization, Hooray! [ 48:25 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (36)

Click on the player below, in order to listen to Michael’s talk.
Get the most recent iTunes software and subscribe to this podcast from the Buddhist and/or Philosophy sections of the Religion & Spirituality list.
____

In this talk, Michael talks about deconstructing spiritual work in ways that enliven, rather than deaden, the deepest aspects of our lives.

ISmile242 - A Way, Not a Belief [ 28:34 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (39)