Category Archives: Society and Culture

How dare you even question learned helplessness (or) Wednesday morning coffee

Posted on May 9, 2012 by admin

Something interesting happened at The Chronicle of Higher Education this week. Naomi Schaefer Riley posted something that upset enough people who protested strongly enough that she was fired. Schaefer Riley commented on an article in The Chronicle about black studies … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Economics, Ethnicity and race, News, Society and Culture | Leave a comment

I thank thee Lord that I’m better than (or) Sunday morning coffee

Posted on May 6, 2012 by admin

James Taranto in his latest piece at the Wall Street Journal again confirms that is becoming increasingly clear. That a significant factor motivating people to take certain social-political stands is the need to feel superior to others. I think the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics and Morality, Ethnicity and race, Politics, Society and Culture | Leave a comment

Good and bad states for business and the significance of regional bigotry

Posted on May 3, 2012 by admin

Regional bigotry. I am a proud child of Massachusetts. Spent most of my life in the northeast. Grew up in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut – as well as Great Britain. Perhaps because of my background I have become increasingly aware … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Economics, News, Politics, Rhetoric, Society and Culture | 2 Comments

So there is a grand conspiracy (or) My eyes have been opened – reluctantly

Posted on March 9, 2012 by admin

Trying to unwind before bed last night called up Netflix and noticed “New Episodes” of Doctor Who. Woohoo! It was the episode about the “Silents” who have been among us for thousands of years but no human can ever remember … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Healthcare, Issues, Logic and Reason, Politics, Religion, Science Fiction, Society and Culture, Television | Comments Off

Live the Trinity – into suspended animation?

Posted on July 22, 2011 by admin

I might have to take a page from the Red Stick Rant book and put this website into temporary(?) hibernation. The last 2 weeks have been working 10-12 hours/day which is fine. Hard work is part of congregational ministry. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, Art, Bible, Buddhism, Ethnicity and race, Hebrew Bible, Internationals and immigrants, Movies and film, New Testament, News, Opera, Politics, Science, Society and Culture | Comments Off

Heading to New York (where gay marriage is now legal)

Posted on June 28, 2011 by admin

This Thursday evening my children and I will fly to upstate New York to spend a week visiting with my mom as well as my sisters and brother and his family who all live in Minnesota. My mom lives on … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian Practice, Christianity, Family, Hebrew Bible, Issues, Judaism, Law and Justice, Logic and Reason, Politics, Religion, Same-sex, Society and Culture | Comments Off

Falling prey to propaganda (or) Afternoon coffee

Posted on June 15, 2011 by admin

When enough media outlets pound us enough with the message that someone is odious or venal or stupid one starts to believe the propaganda. “Oh man sure hope Michele Bachmann does not become the Republican presidential candidate because she’s crazy … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Economics, Media, News, Politics, Propaganda, Society and Culture, Women | Comments Off

Holy Play (or) S-, part I

Posted on April 13, 2011 by admin

Originally published in The Window, October 10 2006 Holy Play (or) S-, part I Richard M. Wright (The S- is going somewhere. Trust me.) There is a theme – a theological theme that requires a change in how we live … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian Practice, Personal, Sabbath, Society and Culture, Travel | Comments Off

The psychology of evil and the confluence of sin and death, part II

Posted on March 11, 2011 by admin

“Left alone [Melkor/Morgoth] could only have gone raging on till all was levelled again into a formless chaos” – J. R. R. Tolkien (Morgoth’s Ring, 396) “The spirit in revolt consequently acquires a hatred of being, a frenzy to destroy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Economics, Islam, Issues, Logic and Reason, News, Politics, Religion, Society and Culture, Theology | 2 Comments

Ideological-political bias in higher education?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by admin

There has been some rumblings lately concerning whether there is ideological-political bias in academia. In a nutshell whether academia generally (a) excludes those of a conservative and/or classic liberal persuasion and thereby (b) is dominated by those of a leftist … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Education, Logic and Reason, Politics, Society and Culture | 3 Comments