Essays
Long-form reflections on the images of God we carry — how fear, belonging and the need for love shape our experience of the sacred, and what it means to reclaim freedom of conscience.
Suffering Is Part of Reality, Too
What we fail to hear when we dismiss an account of suffering within a religious community as “emotionalism.”
· 10 min read
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Choosing a Spiritual Guide: Questions Worth Asking
What to ask a spiritual guide about privacy, disagreement and accountability, and how to recognise guidance that respects your conscience.
Why Saying No Can Feel Like Betrayal
Why a reasonable boundary can stir guilt, how abuse of conscience can deepen that fear, and what it takes to make room for your own judgement.
The God That Gave You Sunglasses
How fear, belonging and the need for love can shape our experience of the sacred. An essay introducing the nine religious lenses — a reflective framework by Oscar Rivas for understanding the image of God we carry.
The Psychology of a Catholic Priest
A clinical analysis of the psychology of Catholic priests: the hidden identity the role demands, its emotional and relational cost, and the possible paths toward integration.
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The nine lenses
A companion to the essays: an interactive way to reflect on the nine religious lenses across three relationships — God, Self and Others.