Commentary

A few years ago, my optometrist told me I had age-related macular degeneration. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in people over age 65. I’m lucky. Now 87, I’m still pretty functional, although I carry a flashlight and find myself using it more and more.

Every culture has some way of saying good-bye, whether it’s a permanent send-off or wishing them well in the hereafter. Public celebrations encourage people to gather to support each other and perhaps share positive, inspiring lessons from the deceased.

Jesus has been portrayed in many different ways: from a prophet who alerts his audience to the world’s imminent end to a philosopher who reflects on the nature of life. But no one has called Jesus an internet guru – that is, until now.

Shirdi Sai Baba’s influence was monumental in shaping Indian spirituality. He encouraged both his Hindu and Muslim followers to read their respective holy texts to become the best versions of themselves. He rejected material offerings and spent his life in contemplation, eschewing orthodoxy.

As I watched the hit docu-series "Shiny, Happy, People," I realized I needed to address a different set of questions: How did I — a child raised into that organization — break free? How can anyone break free of misguided, fundamentalist religious movements or cult-like organizations and, yet, still retain any kind of religious belief?

How would we deal with the realities of our daily lives if we admitted another brazen statement: Truth doesn’t care?

“Zero-sum” describes a situation or game in which whatever is gained by one side is lost by the other: winner takes all. Our culture thrives on it. Take sports. Rooted in zero-sum attitudes, sports epitomize much else in our culture: politics, our judicial system, business and, of course, war.