Jun

2016

From grammar to God -- via personal pronouns

English grammar has three sets of personal pronouns.
First person: I, me, and mine.
Second person: You and yours.
Third person: He, she, and it; him, her; his, hers, and its. (No, not “it’s” -- that’s a contraction of “it is”.)

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Categories: Soft Edges

Tags: grammar, personal pronouns

26

Jun

2016

Good idea, but too little, for too few

Author: Jim Taylor

Every week, another deadline looms. Every week, I scan the news looking for something worthwhile to write about. There’s no lack of source material. Fires, accidents, murders, floods, crashes, sports winners, sports losers - the list is endless. And repetitive. How often can I condemn mass murders without plagiarizing myself? But now and then, something new comes along. This last week, it was the announcement that the federal and provincial finance ministers had agreed on improvements to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). I’m delighted that two levels of government managed to agree on anything. But I’m disappointed that the mountain labored and brought forth a mouse.

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Categories: Sharp Edges

Tags: CPP, OAS

22

Jun

2016

Delay the Pearly Gates; join a church

Author: Jim Taylor

Postpone eternal life as long as possible -- join a church!
That slogan sounds like a contradiction -- don’t churches extol the glories of eternal life?
In fact, dozens of demographic studies have found that people who attend church regularly tend to live longer than non-attenders. Now psychologist Jonathan Haidt has provided some rationale for this extended longevity.

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Categories: Soft Edges

Tags: pearly gates, church

19

Jun

2016

Preaching hate in Jesus’ name

Author: Jim Taylor

We made an odd couple, strolling down Toronto’s Yonge Street that hot summer evening. We chatted animatedly about Wittgenstein and Nietzsche, Hemingway and Atwood. We paused occasionally to observe the scantily clad bodies strolling along Yonge Street’s sidewalks. I admired the women; he, the men. He was gay. He posed no threat to me, nor I to him. Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old U.S.-born citizen of Afghan descent, didn’t share our tolerance. A week ago, he invaded a gay night club in Orlando, Florida, and started shooting.

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Categories: Sharp Edges

Tags: fundamentalism, preaching hatred

15

Jun

2016

Singing synchronizes body and breath

Author: Jim Taylor

Our congregation did a profoundly counter-cultural act last Sunday. We sang.
People don’t sing anymore. They plug loudspeakers into their ears. While they’re at work. Or out for a walk. While they lie on the beach, or commune with nature.

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Categories: Soft Edges

Tags: singing, body, breath

Jim Taylor's Columns - 'Soft Edges' and 'Sharp Edges'

From grammar to God -- via personal pronouns

Good idea, but too little, for too few

Delay the Pearly Gates; join a church

Preaching hate in Jesus’ name

Singing synchronizes body and breath

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