I have always been fascinated by the great mysteries that puzzle everyone from school-children to eminent scholars:
Where did we come from? Why are we here? Why is anything here?
How can we find meaning and value in our lives?
How can we tell right from wrong, good from evil?
What is real and what is illusion?
Are there divine beings or a supernatural world?
How do we deal with issues such as moral rules vs. moral relativism, free will vs. determinism, theism vs. atheism, the mystery of consciousness, puzzles about selfhood, and how to deal with death?
How can we know anything at all?
These are not just academic issues. They have a profound impact on the quality of our lives. I am incredibly fortunate to have had the time and the opportunity to consider these questions in depth for several decades. I read about religion and philosophy early in life, and when I entered college I was ready to jump into the deep end. I majored in philosophy, religion, and psychology, and went on to earn a doctorate in religion from Claremont School of Theology, a respected seminary in southern California. I became a psychotherapist and a Unitarian Universalist minister. (Unitarian Universalism welcomes people of all positive faiths and philosophies, including both theists and secular humanists.) I’ve taken several sabbaticals for further study, and since 2008 I’ve been writing, speaking, and leading workshops about my books, full-time.
This site provides information about several of my books, my blogs, and other writings. It includes pages about four books:
Your Living Mind: The Mystery of Consciousness and Why It Matters to You
Bridging the God Gap: Finding Common Ground Among Believers, Atheists and Agnostics
Feel Better Now: 30 Ways to Handle Frustration in 3 Minutes or Less
Do Think Twice: Provocative Reflections on Age-Old Questions
Each of these book-pages includes most of the first chapter or the Introduction. I’ve also created pages describing my blogs, with sample posts from each.
After grappling with the Big Questions, do I have any Big Answers? I am far too involved with my work to be objective about that. But I have been willing to bet my life that if enough of us dive deeply into exploring these perennial enigmas, we will find new insights that move us toward the truth. I’m doing what I can to find these life-giving ideas. Others will decide whether I’ve succeeded.
I would love to know how you respond to what I’ve written.
Roger Christan Schriner
Educational and professional background:
Dr. Roger Schriner is a writer, psychotherapist, and Unitarian Universalist minister. He earned a B.A. from the University of Redlands summa cum laude in religion, philosophy, and psychology, a Doctorate in Religion from Claremont School of Theology, and an M.S. in Family Counseling from the University of LaVerne. His Honors Thesis at Redlands examined the ethical thought of theologian Paul Tillich and his dissertation at Claremont School of Theology dealt with nuclear weapons policy. He worked for 25 years as a psychotherapist and he is Minister Emeritus of Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Fremont.
He is the author of six books, the most recent of which are:
Bridging the God Gap: Finding Common Ground Among Believers, Atheists and Agnostics, http://www.amazon.com/Bridging-God-Gap-Believers-Agnostics/dp/0984584005/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312308771&sr=1-1
Your Living Mind: The Mystery of Consciousness and Why It Matters to You, http://www.amazon.com/Your-Living-Mind-Mystery-Consciousness/dp/0984584013/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412313451&sr=1-1&keywords=your+living+mind+schriner
Blogs:
The Mystery of Consciousness, and Why It Matters, http://mysteryofconsciousness.wordpress.com
Did God Really Say THAT!? A Blog about the Bible, http://didgodreallysaythat.wordpress.com.
Theists & Atheists: Communication & Common Ground, http://theistsandatheists.wordpress.com
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