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Barbara Falconer Newhall

Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall riffs on life as she knows it.

  • A CASE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
  • MY EVER-CHANGING FAMILY
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My Rocky Spiritual Journey

You don't have to be a big believer to find something interesting to read here . . . You'll find excerpts from the spiritual journeys of people I've met on the religion beat as well as reports of my own fraught encounters with religion and spirituality . . . as well as updates on my book, "Wrestling with God: Stories of Doubt and Faith," from Patheos Press.

San Juan Islands Flora: Or, I Cling, Therefore I Am

November 6, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Granite rocks with lichen and pickle grass in Washington's San Juan Islands. Photo by Barbara Newhall

We cling. We cling to stuff. We cling to moments in time. On vacation last summer I clung to the verdant San Juan Islands flora. Read more.

Atheist to Catholic–Two Brainy Women Get Religion

October 16, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Outdoor photo of Holly Ordway, author of "Not God's Type: An Atheist Academic Lays Down Her Arms"

Two memoirists, both very smart, move from atheism toward God, and from there smack, dab into full-fledged Catholicism. Read more.

James Dobson: Bully Your Pet, Hit Your Kid, Make Them Obey You–And God

October 9, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Recent photo of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson at a podium, talking.

In his 1978 parenting book, “The Strong-Willed Child,” James Dobson says disobedient childen, like dogs, must be spanked into submission to parents and God. Read more.

Where Author Richard Rodriguez Sees the Face of God

October 2, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Author Richard Rodriguez spoke at Faith Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA. Photo by Barbara Newhall

When asked why he believed in God, Richard Rodriguez, author of Darling: A Spiritual Autobiography, answered the question with a story about Mother Teresa. Read more.

Dale Chihuly’s Glass: Fine Art? Kitsch? Or Both?

September 25, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Dale Chihuly's early 1970s "Glass Forest" glass sculpture at Chihuly Garden and Glass museum in Seattle. Photo by Barbara NewhallI can’t make up my mind about Dale Chihuly. He’s a glassblower, which makes him a craftsman. But is he also an artist? He’s prolific and his work is popular; does that mean he’s pandering to a mass audience? Is his work fine art—or shameless kitsch? Read more.

Religion in Public Affairs — Americans Think Religious Influence Is Waning

September 22, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Staffers at Pew Research Center presented finding of ther9-22-2014 poll on religion and politics at the annual Religion Newswriters Association conference.

A report on religion in public affairs from the Pew Research Center says religion is losing influence in American life. It also found that 50 percent of Americans finds homosexulity sinful — and 52 percent support same-sex marriage. Read more.

A Footwear Meditation–Chic Feet and Stylish Legs on the Go at SFO

September 11, 2014 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Mother and daughter wait for airplane at SFO. The girl wears pink socks, her mother wears camouflage pants. PHoto by Barbara Newhall

A parade of fashionable traveling feet transformed itself into a meditation on the passage of time as I waited for a flight out of SFO last month. Read more.

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ON THE FUNNY SIDE

The Lost Art of the Telephone Conversation — Here’s What Happened to It. Sheltering at Home Week 14

the lost art of the telephone conversation

I know why young people do all that texting. It’s because 21st-century wireless phones make for a lousy telephone conversation, and kids want to — talk. Read more.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

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TO MY READERS

Please feel free to share links to my posts with one and all and to quote briefly from them in your own writing, remembering, of course, to attribute the quote to me and to provide a link back to this site.

My Oakland Tribune columns, btw, are reprinted by permission of the Trib. With the exception of review copies of books, I do not accept ads or freebies of any kind. Click on the "Contact" button if you have questions. Enjoy!

 

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Huston Smith at Sagrada bookstore, oakland, ca. 2009. Photo by Barbara Newhall

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Beauty Makes Me Happy — Why?

President Barack Obama at his desk, thinking. White House photo.

Book Openers: Barack Obama — How He Got So Smart

Sumbul Ali-Karamali, author of "The Muslim Next Door" Cover of her book.

A Chance to Get Acquainted With That Muslim Next Door

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