The Washington Post and Newsweek have teamed up to produce a fantastic interview series called “Divine Impulses.”

Journalist Sally Quinn interviews influential thinkers, spiritual leaders, celebrities and politicians about their “divine impulses,” or their understanding of the Divine (or God) and spirituality and how that influences their lives.

Quinn interviews a wide range of people, who offer a wide range of perspectives. Some of the folks she has interviewed include: Rick Warren, pastor and author of The Purpose-Driven Life; Deepak Chopra, author and spiritual teacher; Ashley Judd, actress and activist; Joel Osteen, author and pastor; Caroline Casey, astrologist; and Desmond Tutu, archbishop and activist.

Check out the list of interviews and enjoy watching the interviews online. (And don’t be surprised if you end up watching all the interviews in one sitting!)

Below are highlights from one of my favorite interviews, the interview with religion historian Karen Armstrong, who wrote the best-selling book A History of God.

Ever since Oprah and Eckhart Tolle started broadcasting via the web their conversations about Tolle’s book A New Earth, some Christians have voiced concerns about the content of Tolle’s book and his conversations with Oprah. From my understanding, some Christians feel that Tolle’s teachings may be dangerous for Christians and may be a threat to Christianity.

Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest who I’m a big fan of, recently wrote a wonderful, short article called “Eckhart Tolle and the Christian Tradition” (it’s in PDF format). In the article, Rohr explains why he appreciates Tolle’s teachings and how they mesh with Christian tradition.

If you’re concerned about Tolle’s teachings, or are interested in how they might mesh with Christian tradition, this short article may be helpful for you.

Every Monday night for the next several weeks, Oprah and Eckhart Tolle are talking about spiritual and emotional development - and they’re broadcasting the conversations live on Oprah’s website! Oprah and Ecky (as one of my friends has playfully referred to him) are going chapter by chapter through Tolle’s bestselling book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose (which is one of the best books on spiritual and emotional development that I’ve ever read).

Oprah said this is the most exciting thing she’s ever done. Um, needless to say, coming from Oprah, who has probably done some exciting (read: blockbuster, kick-ass) things in her life, that’s saying something.

I’ve listened to the first two segments of Oprah and Ecky, and the conversations are great. Also, Oprah and Ecky take questions from the listening audience (from all over the world!), and the questions have been great.

If you’re a Christian or have a Christian background, you might like to know that in the first two segments, Oprah, Ecky and some callers spend some time discussing how Christianity (and “religion” in general) and spirituality fit together. Here’s a juicy part: Oprah describes herself as a “free-thinking Christian,” and she explains what she means by that and describes how she arrived at this point.

So what are Oprah and Ecky really talking about?!?! In the broadest sense, from my perspective and understanding, they’re talking about the spiritual and emotional developmental journey from “ego” (or false self or codependent self) to “True Self.” This is the big transformational journey most religions (at their best) and psychotherapists (at their best) try to facilitate for people.

Needless to say, I think these Oprah and Ecky conversations on Monday nights are very important and exciting! I think they’ll help some people take more steps on the transformational journey, and I think they’ll help humanity as a whole take a developmental step forward. Now that’s a big deal!

Based on what I’ve written so far, you might have the sense that these conversations are academic, theoretical or philosophical. The conversations are actually very practical and even experiential (Oprah and Ecky mix in some spiritual exercises to help listeners “experience” what they’re talking about), and you may get a lot out of them (at a minimum, you may grow in self-awareness).

If you’re interested in listening to or watching these Oprah and Ecky conversations, you’ve got some options. Most importantly, you don’t have to show up at Oprah’s website each Monday night, unless you want to watch the conversations live. All the conversations are archived and available any time (for free). Check out your options. And enjoy!

If you do watch or listen, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

»Q&A With Michael Dowd About Evolution and Spirituality

Thanks to my subscription to WIE Unbound, I recently discovered Michael Dowd (a former pastor) and his wife Connie Barlow (a scientist). They’ve spent the last five years traveling the country to preach the Gospel of Evolution (i.e., the “good news” of evolution and why having a sacred view of evolution is important for the healthy development of and care for individuals, communities, nations, the earth and the entire universe). Michael and Connie speak to various groups (religious, scientific and otherwise), including a lot of church groups.

I’m incredibly impressed with Michael and his sacred view of evolution! I can’t say that strongly enough! His perspective and views have already been helpful for me in terms of affirming, challenging and expanding my own experiential and intellectual understanding of God and human development. Hold me back … I’m ready to hop in the van with Michael and Connie and preach the Gospel … of evolutionary spirituality.

If I’ve piqued your interest at all, don’t miss the Q&A With Michael Dowd — it’s the perfect place to dive in. Michael answers basic questions (via text and video clips) about what it means to have a sacred view of evolution and why it’s important. He’s a gifted communicator, incredibly articulate, passionate and down-to-earth.

I’m not the only one, by the way, who’s excited about Michael Dowd’s sacred view of evolution (and, to clarify, his view isn’t new … Michael’s following in the footsteps of Thomas Berry, Brian Swimme, Teilhard de Chardin and others … but few people have articulated a sacred view of evolution in such a compelling and integrated — yes, integrated — way). Michael’s recent book, Thank God for Evolution, is getting rave reviews from pastors, rabbis, Buddhists, Hindus, Nobel prize winning scientists, etc. The list of endorsements is incredibly impressive!

Last thing: For a basic primer on evolutionary spirituality and theology, check out the Wikipedia page, Evolution Theology.

Here’s what’s HOT this week:

»VIDEO: “False Self to True Self” (on YouTube.com) by Father Thomas Keating and Ken Wilber

In this fantastic video (which is titled “Religious, But Not Spiritual?” on YouTube), Father Thomas Keating and Ken Wilber talk about the transformational journey from false self to true self and the important role of contemplative practices in the journey. I deeply appreciate Father Keating’s inclusiveness, and he does a great job pointing out that all major religions talk about — and try to help facilitate — this transformational journey from false self (or ego) to true self. It seems to be a universal journey or path, though the major religions have their own way of describing it. I think you’ll love this video. Father Keating is precious (and brilliant!).

»ARTICLE: “Why Be Christian?” an interview with Marcus Borg (on Beliefnet)

This is one of the best and most important articles/interviews I’ve read in a long time. Bible scholar Marcus Borg answers questions about the paradigm shift that’s happening in Christianity, the meaning of “salvation” and being “born again,” the afterlife, and more.

Borg notes, “I don’t want to deny the uniqueness of Christianity. I want to speak of the uniqueness of Christianity, as well as Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism. They are all unique in the sense that they are not exactly alike. But what I’m affirming is that beneath their differences is this common path of transformation [of being "born again," of dying to the false self and being born into the true self]. For me, seeing that all the major enduring religions know this path of transformation gives Christianity much more credibility than if it were to claim to know something that no other religion had ever known.”

Here’s what’s HOT this week:

»WEBSITE: beliefnet

Supposedly the largest spiritual website, beliefnet is packed with great resources. There’s so much to explore and enjoy, including guided meditations from Christian and Buddhist faith traditions. I deeply appreciate some of the Christian columnists on beliefnet, such as Marcus Borg, Sue Monk Kidd, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Bishop John Shelby Spong. You can now view short video clips of each of these columnists talking about various aspects of the spiritual journey, Christianity and religion. (To view video clips, just click on a name above.) For example, don’t miss Borg answering the question “How Do I See Jesus?” or Spong talking about “God’s Love” or Taylor answering the question, “How Should I Respond to People of Other Faiths?“

»MAGAZINE & WEBSITE: What Is Enlightenment? (WIE)

If I could work for any magazine, I’d probably choose this one. WIE engages and covers spirituality in a smart, wholistic and inclusive way. WIE asks big, hairy and fascinating questions, such as: Is God All in Your Head?; What Is the Role of Celibacy On the Spiritual Path?; and How Has Enlightenment Evolved? WIE is written by and covers some of the brightest thinkers and deepest souls in the world of spirituality, such as Father Thomas Keating, Ken Wilber and Eckhart Tolle. Enjoy exploring some of the sections on the site, such as: The Evolution of Spirituality; Science, Consciousness and the Soul; The Future of Religion; and Contemplative Christianity. Have fun!

Each week I’m gonna try to post “What’s HOT,” a brief list of things (e.g., articles, podcasts, books, bands, etc.) that I think are worth a smooch. I hope “What’s HOT” becomes a helpful resource for you! (If your lips get chapped from smooching too much, sue me.)

Let’s get started. Here’s what’s HOT this week:

»ARTICLE: Mother Teresa’s Crisis of Faith (Time)
The article provides a great overview of the much-talked-about new book, Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light (Doubleday), which consists primarily of correspondence between Teresa and her confessors and superiors over a period of 66 years. According to Teresa’s letters, for the last nearly half-century of her life she felt no presence of God whatsoever — or, as the book’s compiler and editor, the Rev. Brian Kolodiejchuk, writes, “neither in her heart or in the eucharist.”

»ARTICLE: Homosexuality and the Bible by Dr. Walter Wink
The debate about homosexuality rages on in the Christian world, and Wink does an amazing job of looking at both sides of the issue, especially in light of what the Bible says (or doesn’t say) about homosexuality. Especially important — and funny! — in this article is the brilliant way that Wink illustrates the different ways that people interpret the Bible, especially the passages about sexuality. (Does the Bible say anything about “smooching”? I’m just asking.)

»SONG: “The Truth About Jayne” by Jeff Winkle
This new song by Wink (not the same Wink as above) is about a friend of his who has been struggling with life for a long time. To listen, visit Wink’s MySpace page.

While in Sedona, AZ, last month, on a Sunday morning, I attended the Sedona Interfaith Fellowship worship service at the Sedona Public Library. I had no idea what to expect. And, man, was I blown away by the beauty and intimacy of the service. Susan Perry, the pastor, did an amazing job of ushering me into experiencing God’s loving presence. She acted, in a sense, as a group spiritual director, and she led all 30 of us through a very contemplative service — a service mixed with song, meditation, chanting (like the monks) and silence. Perhaps I’ll post the service elements here on the blog so you get a detailed sense of what I’m talking about.

After the service, I went to lunch with Susan and about 15 members of the fellowship. Needless to say, I had some fascinating conversations about spiritual and emotional development. One sweet woman explained that Sedona seems to be a place where people are forced to face their internal “issues.” And, she said, they either face their issues (and the pain) or they leave Sedona. So I asked her if she’s been facing her issues and, if so, how she’s going about facing her issues. She smiled really big and said she thinks she’ll always be facing her issues (in other words, the transformational journey never ends). She then went on to explain that she went to a Shamanic counselor and did some past-life therapy; there was some deep unforgiveness in her soul that she wasn’t dealing with. She said she’s been healing and experiencing more freedom. “Great,” I said (as the words “past-life therapy” floated in my head). So that’s just a taste of the conversations I had with the group.

The next night I went to Susan’s house for dinner and conversation. (In the photo at left: Anna, Susan, John and I.) Susan’s fabulous; she feels like a kindred spirit; and she’s a really gifted spiritual leader. She told me her story and, eventually, about how she ended up starting and pastoring an interfaith fellowship. She’s a Christian, she has a huge heart for unity, and she loves helping those who have been wounded by religious experiences or communities to experience God’s healing, loving presence.  In fact, here’s the beautiful mission of Sedona Interfaith Fellowship:  To be an opening through which individuals may more deeply experience the presence of God.  To create this opening by drawing upon the wisdom and beauty of the world’s great spiritual traditions.

Susan actually graduated from an interfaith seminary, The New Seminary in New York. The seminary’s slogan is:  “Never instead of, always in addition to …”  She graduated in 1994 and started Sedona Interfaith Fellowship in 1996.

I’ll try to post more on this later.  Meanwhile, you may want to check out my photos of Sedona.

Richard Rohr (in the photo with Randy and I) is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico province and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in Albuquerque, NM.  Last month I had a great time meeting him and others at the CAC.  I ended up having some truly transformative interactions during my stay at Stillpoint, the CAC’s retreat center.

I love Rohr’s theology and his thoughts on spiritual transformation and emotional development.  To get a taste of it, I highly recommend that you read the following article he recently wrote:  “Awakened and Astonished” (part one) and “Awakened and Astonished” (part two).

Finally, to get a look at the CAC, check out my photos from my trip there.       

A couple things I love about the International House of Prayer (I.H.O.P.) in Kansas City are:  1)  its focus on “experiencing” ever-deepening intimacy with God; 2) its integration of emotional health. 

One of the aspects of the I.H.O.P. community that concerns me is its views on the “end times” (i.e., its views on God’s plan for the future of the world).  The I.H.O.P. community believes that Jesus is coming back soon, really soon.  One lady we talked with at I.H.O.P. is convinced that Jesus is coming back within 30 years.  I.H.O.P.’s views of the “end times” influence everything they do — eschatology (to use the theological term) is central for them.  The I.H.O.P. community is preparing to be the bride of Christ — this is central for them. 

One potential danger of I.H.O.P. focusing on Jesus’ imminent return is that I.H.O.P. may not be concerned with helping to transform this world.  If Jesus is coming back any day now, why bother to help end poverty, AIDS, global warming, etc., etc., etc.  That viewpoint, it seems to me, is the opposite viewpoint of Jesus — who was all about transforming this world in every way, ushering in justice, peace, and healing.

I think the evangelical Christian world needs to reform its eschatology … because much of the evangelical Christian world has a similar eschatology as I.H.O.P., though it’s usually not communicated as explicitly as it is at I.H.O.P.  Our eschatology is important because our eschatology powerfully influences the way we live in this world!

For instance, if we think that this broken world is getting worse and worse (decaying, getting more evil, more broken, etc.), will we be inspired and motivated to help transform it?!  If, on the other hand, we believe this broken world matters and is being transformed by God more and more — that the trajectory is up, rather than down — will we be more inspired and motivated to partner with God to help transform the world? 

What if Jesus has already come back again — in the form of his Spirit?  And what if this world is on a trajectory “up,” toward more and more transformation?  What if this world is on a trajecotry of “intensification” of God’s loving, transforming presence?