The Wonder Paradox Study Guide
The Wonder Paradox was written in order to suggest a template for secular rituals that can substitute for the many holidays, life celebrations, and daily affirmations that religion provides. Since this is one of the primary goals of this wiki project, and most of the poems are in the public domain, much of the poetry used throughout this wiki has been borrowed from her book.
It makes an excellent book club read for secular groups, whose book clubs usually tend towards the more scientific and cerebral than the poetic. It offers a lot of fodder for discussion.
Introduction
This book offers a unique perspective in the atheist literary canon, because it looks at religion from a poetic and functional perspective rather than a literal one. It asks "what psychological functions do rituals and scriptural readings serve?" and acknowledges they can have positive benefits
This book really helps atheists and others with scientific worldviews to understand scripture as poetry that is not meant to be interpreted literally. Like poetry, it contains wisdom in the way it elicits emotional truths, and allows for interpretation that helps create meaning.
Rather than clinging to tradition as many secular gurus have advocated, Hecht constructs a new ritual canon using her extensive knowledge and love of poetry to find words that can convey the necessary gravitas when important moments call for it.
Discussion Questions
- Do you agree that ritual is important to human psychology?
- Can ritual be rational or is it inherently irrational?
- Can poetry reinforce reason?
- Define "cultural liturgy"
- Define "liminal space"
- What do you think of the term "Interfaithless"?
1. Decisions
Many people pray or meditate in order to help make important decisions. These rituals can focus the mind on a problem, help set intentions and goals, and cultivate hope for success.
Discussion Questions
- Can ritualized reflection help with decision making?
- Do any of you have a contemplation or decision making ritual that replaces prayer?
- What is the "sweet spot between gravitas and pleasure" for secular people?
Poems
- Traveler There Is No Road
2. Eating
Many religions encourage saying a prayer before meals, especially holiday meals and banquets. These practices can help us appreciate our food and the complex natural and human systems that have produced the abundance we currently enjoy.
Discussion Questions
- Did your family say prayers before meals?
- Do any of you currently practice a gratitude ritual before meals?
- What about Thanksgiving, holidays, or banquets? Do you offer words of gratitude on these occasions?
- Can a moment of reflection before eating help with diet or eating disorders?
- What are the missing words in "Not only the sugar, but the days, to hold"?
Poems
- From Blossoms
- Frost the Road Not Taken
- Ate the Fellow Raw
- Wild Geese
3. Gratitude
Many scientific studies have shown that practices cultivating gratitude have a huge benefit to our happiness. Prayers of gratitude are a part of every religion in some form.
Discussion Questions
- Do you ever feel the need to thank the universe for being awesome and giving you consciousness?
- Do humanists have a responsibility to cultivate generosity?
- Who has kept a gratitude journal? What was your experience?
- "If you aren't in love with late-capitalism, why are you letting it store all its stuff at your place?"
- Is a poem better if its stanzas follow a mathematical pattern like the Fibonacci sequence?
- What's in your cosmic gratitude poem?
Poems
- Alphabet
- Mark Strand end of poem