Spirituality & Practice (S&P) is a multi-faith website devoted to resources for spiritual journeys. While respecting differences among traditions, S&P celebrates what they share in common.
Spirituality & Practice (S&P) is a multi-faith website devoted to resources for spiritual journeys. While respecting differences among traditions, S&P celebrates what they share in common.
Their Eyes Were Watching God Reading Guide
Explore the themes of discrimination, love, and experience in this guide to Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God.
August Practice: Look for a Person’s Essence
Democracy requires that we listen to others sincerely, even when there is disagreement. But how does this work online? When you consider the person on the other end of the comment or video, what would it mean to listen with the intent to draw out their true essence or identify their good intentions, instead of listening with the intent to debate or argue with them? So often people want to prove their point or listen only until they get a chance to say their piece.
Practicing Democracy at Home
“The human heart is the first home of democracy,” observes American author Terry Tempest Williams. “It is where we embrace our questions. Can we be equitable? Can we be generous? Can we listen with our whole beings, not just our minds, and offer our attention rather than our opinions?” In our actual homes, these questions can serve as guidelines for our relationships with our family and housemates. Here are 14 suggestions for household activities that promote democratic values.
The Partly Cloudy Patriot Reading Guide
Explore the themes of patriotism, truth and history, and the American character in this guide to Sarah Vowell's The Partly Cloudy Patriot.
Practicing Democracy with Your Money
What factors determine how you earn, spend, invest, and give away your money? The answer reflects your cultural background, your values, your ideals, and even your perspective on democracy. Bringing thoughtful awareness to your relationship with money can lead to a fulfilling life and deepened civic commitment. Here are nine ways you can approach your finances in ways that promote democratic values like equality, freedom, and justice, as well as democratic virtues like fairness, integrity, and consideration of others.
The Sympathizer Reading Guide
Explore the themes of identity, representation, and power in this guide to Viet Thanh Nguyen's The Sympathizer.
June Practice: Contemplative Walks
This spiritual practice takes walking from an experience of observation and listening to a contemplative experience to increase your self-awareness and your feelings of deep connection to your neighborhood. It is designed to encourage such democratic values and virtues as caring, generosity, service, and consideration.
Practicing Democracy in Your Neighborhood
Democracy begins locally—not only within the city or county government nearest you but even closer, within your neighborhood. Philosopher and activist Grace Lee Boggs observed: “We can begin by doing small things at the local level … That is how change takes place in living systems, not from above but from within, from many local actions occurring simultaneously.” That process is how we can strengthen our democracy. Here are 12 starting points.
Five Decades of Chronicling Spirituality in Everyday Life
For "tracking down the sacred in the nooks and crannies of our popular culture," (as philosopher Sam Keen notes), we extend our congratulations to Mary Ann and Frederic Brussat on the 50th anniversary of their marriage and their work together!
Ceremony Reading Guide
Explore the themes of destruction, healing, and connection in this guide to Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony.