CONTENTS

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES: the ABC's of a good life. 

CONTENTS

Note: this list is provisional. It may vary in terms of numbers of chapters, titles etc. See http://questionsresponses.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/abcs-contents-of-questions-and.html for another idea about arrangeing these topics - in alphabetical order). 

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Here's the first-draft of a list of Contents which formed part of the contract I had with Mosaic Press (which is now defunct). 

PART 1: THE BIG PICTURE…

1.  GOOD & EVIL: Why be good; why fight evil? And are we born or made to be good or evil (either or both)?

2.  GOD & SATAN: What we are we postmoderns supposed to do with all that medieval stuff?

3.  AUTHORITY & CERTAINTY: The eternal question: ‘What is Truth?’ Four sources of truth: reason, (a sacred book e.g. the Bible), tradition, experience.  

4. JESUS & CHRISTIANITY:  ‘An ancient Near Eastern carpenter claims to be God - do people still believe that?’

5. RELIGIONS, CHURCHES & SECTS: ‘They can’t all/any of them be right can they?’

6. PRAYER & MEDITATION. SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES: lectio divina, prayer, meditation, solitude, silence, stillness: finding peace in the desert - every day 

PART 2: ME, MYSELF & MINE – OH, AND OTHERS…

7. LOVE & JUSTICE: ‘Why do we mistreat so many people – defenceless children, religious and racial/ethnic minorities, the handicapped, sweat-shop workers… the list goes on..’

8. PRIDE & POWER: ‘Why do too many humans want to be #1?’

9. SEX, ROMANCE & MARRIAGE: ‘It can all be very nice or very horrible… Why?’
ROMANCE/'FALLING IN LOVE': 'A genetic trick to hook us into marriage'? SEXUAL ABUSE

10. WOMEN & MEN: In many countries/subjects women are doing better academically, but earn 5% less than men – where’s the sense/justice in that? Vive la difference? Mars/Venus and other theories... 

11. HOMOSEXUALITY & GENDER ISSUES: If blacks/gays/dwarfs/whoever had no choice… what are they asking of the rest of us?

12. PARENTS & CHILDREN: How to enjoy your life - even if you didn’t choose your parents well.

13. ABORTION & EUTHANASIA etc. : Moral issues where good (and bad) people differ.

PART 3: YOU’VE GOT ONE LIFE: MAKE THE MOST OF IT…

14. EMOTIONAL & INTELLECTUAL INTELLIGENCE:

15. LEADERS & FOLLOWERS:

16. HAPPINESS & JOY: ‘No, they’re not the same, but why am I mostly bereft of both of them?’

17. BIRDS & FLOWERS: ‘How can I enjoy “all things bright and beautiful” more?

18. SUCCESS & FAILURE:

19. STRESS & BURNOUT:

20. WORK & PLAY:

PART 4: (MORE) VIRTUES, VICES & HUMAN ARRANGEMENTS

WAR & PEACE:

POVERTY & HUNGER:

LAWS & POLITICS: Unfortunate necessities; mantras and shibolleths 

PART 5: AND IN THE END…

APOCALYPSE CHECKLIST: Caring for the planet – for future generations

GROWING OLD:  Towards simplicity the other side of complexity.

SICKNESS & HEALTH: If I reduced it to 10 ‘health commandments’ what would my list look like?’

DEATH & DYING:

TIME & ETERNITY: Theories about nothingness, reincarnation, heaven, & hell.

31. YOUR CHECK-LIST FOR A VERY GOOD LIFE: What’s general and universal; and what’s relative and personal. Including HEALTH checklist.

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AND MAYBE THESE...

FUNDAMENTALISM(S): source of most of the world's ideological-ethno-religious conflicts... Paradigm-shifts: 'You don't know you're wearing chains until you begin moving...'

WHO AM I? And who gives me my grade/worth? Parents, mentors and heroes...

RELATIONSHIPS - LOVE/JUSTICE (Keys to all relationships). ‘Why do we mistreat so many people – defenceless children, religious and racial/ethnic minorities, the handicapped, sweat-shop workers… the list goes on…?’ 

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