We take a look at David Bowie's fascination with Buddhism. Progressive Christians argue why they don't want a God who "controls everything." And is Hellboy a Catholic comic? We discuss these issues and more in Faithful Friday, our weekly segment on faiths and religious communities around the world. All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!
Did you know that David Bowie almost became a Buddhist monk in the 1960s before a spiritual teacher advised him to remain a musician? That's the beginning of Lion's Roar's fascinating look at the Bowie's fascination with Buddhism throughout his life, which you can read here.
What does it mean to believe in an all-powerful, all-knowing deity? Does that mean they also control everything that happens? Or do they take a more of a backseat. What are their concerns as a supreme being? Chris Glasser tackles these questions at ProgressiveChristianity.org.
All of us, at some time in our lives, feel stressed or anxious. The roots of these conditions are ultimately biological, but they can have an impact on our spiritual lives as well. Buddhist writer Jayarava examines the root of stress and what it has to do with meditation here.
What's the typical Muslim like? Are they Sunni or Shia? Are they Arab? Do they live in the Middle East? Muslim Matters takes a look at some of the complicated questions of Muslim identity and the importance of recognizing the diversity within Islam, despite attempts from both within and without to deny it.
Is Hellboy a Catholic comic? Although the work, created by Oregon-based comic writer and artist Mike Mignola roots itself predominantly in the genres of urban fantasy and horror, it deals with a fair amount of Christian iconography as well. And its lead character, the titular demon himself, is Catholic. Patheos writer Sergio Bermudez ponders on this puzzling (but interesting) question.
Top image by Tevaprapas