Bože! independent catholic ideas, identity & theology
Theology of Food
Bread
Bread is a core symbole of the sacramental Christian tradition. We use it in the liturgy, and its symbolic value is freqnently cited in Scripture. This is the same recipie we use for making prosphora (bread for the liturgy) – sans sugar (which is optional anyway). What does your community do? Tweet
The Fast – What’s It All About Anyway?
It’s finally here – today is “clean monday”, the fast has begun. So here’s the question: what is “the fast” all about anyway? Athanasius writing in the fourth century said that a bit of moderate asceticism was useful for everyone – not just ascetics (read – monks, virgins, nuns and vowed widows). But the age [...]
Burn Less Incense, Build Green Cred
The Economist has a good article on some recent (and not so recent) moves linking religious communities with addressing ecological issues (not just climate change, I’d say). They report that a recent meeting of religious leaders, Prince Philip and Ban Ki-moon resulted in various action plans according to one’s tradition. The Daoists for example have [...]
One’s Own Little Paradise
For much of yesterday (Sunday) we pottered about in the garden. Thinning the leaf cover on the pond, watering, planting, picking, tidying. I spent the day intermitantly considering the connection between gardening and spirituality/devotion. Early reflections on Mary – for example, relied heavily on the image of the “enclosed garden” or Paradise. This was not [...]
Fasting – Solidarity With Others
Earlier this week I posted on Feasts – and the converstaion took an interesting and unexpected direction to discuss fasting and the customary fasting periods before Pascha, and other feast days. I’ve been pondering this thread of the conversation ever since, been doing some reading too. It struck me this morning that many (if not [...]
Food Glorius Food – Eating As A Sacred Activity
Last month I posted on food sourcing and ethics, asking about the relationship between the seemingly high proportion of OC/IC folk who have become vegetarians and spiritual discipline and theology. You can see the original post by clicking here. This morning, making my rounds I fell into this article over at Religion Dispatches about a [...]