Veterans Day, Gay Marriage, Self Immolation

November 11, 2012 Subscribe · Forward Veterans Day: A Spiritual Perspective On Healing The Wounds Over the past couple of decades the makeup of our military forces is undergoing some drastic change. Despite the herculean recruiting efforts by each of the services, fewer and fewer of our citizens are choosing to serve in uniform. I find this to be a curiosity of some interest. Two particular statistics bear this out. Firstly, the most recent available U.S. Census data indicates that there are about 315 million people in this country. Secondly, out of our total population at any given time only 2.6 to 2.8 million Americans are serving in one of our military branches. This means that at any given time there are less than 1 percent of our citizens serving in uniform. I interpret these numbers to infer that a very small portion of our citizens are engaged in this form of public service. Therefore, this small number of our fellow citizens now bears the responsibility to carry out the roles of diplomatic power projection, and the provision of security for our country. In other words, very few people are carrying a very heavy load so that most of us can have a 401k, travel at will throughout our country and the world and watch cable news on our 42" HD television.  Continue reading... Exiled Leader: Tibetans Have 'Sacred Duty' To Support Self-Immolations PHOTOS: Most And Least Buddhist Cities In America Church Leaders Say Returning Vets Need Time, Attention Most And Least Buddhist Cities In America (PHOTOS) Catholic Church On Gay Marriage: We Are Not Losing Claudio Sciarpelletti, Vatican Computer Technician, Convicted In Vatileaks Scandal The Mormonizing of America J. R. Martinez: Dancing With Faith The Mormonizing of America Catholic Church On Gay Marriage: We Are Not Losing Goodbye, Christian America; Hello, True Christianity JACK LEVISON A Bomb, a Dad and a Veterans Day Plea Can we visualize with prophetic daring, like Isaiah rather than Joel, strategies to equip our soldiers to turn swords into plowshares? Can we imagine, this Veterans Day, effective ways to train them to make peace -- and be at peace themselves? Continue reading... GREG GARRETT Faithful Citizenship: Lessons From the Long Election The residue of the election lingers in our hearts and heads like those election signs still loitering in yards and medians. This election told us that we are more divided as a nation than ever. Now it's time to see if we can live together. Continue reading... RICHARD STEARNS Goodbye, Christian America; Hello, True Christianity Christians can stop worrying about the symbols of the decline of Christian America and get back to the mission Jesus gave us to show the world a different way to live -- a way that demonstrates the great character of God. Continue reading... From around the web btrp JOE LOIZZO, M.D., PH.D. When Mindfulness Meets Compassion: Close Encounters in Contemplative Science As an exploding body of clinical research confirms that mindfulness helps reduce stress and promote healing, learning and neuroplasticity, a parallel line of study on the practice of loving-kindness has begun to converge with exciting new research on positive emotions and the brain. Continue reading... IDA LICHTER, M.D. British Government Set to Battle Sharia Courts A bill that challenges illegal discriminatory practices in U.K. shariah forums is gathering support in Britain's parliament. Its passage will be followed with interest in Western countries under pressure to recognize aspects of Islamic law. Continue reading... Received this from a friend? Sign up for alerts from The Huffington Post here Unsubscribe here.