Category Archives: Religion

Tribal Human Nature Fights Back

Posted on 26 July 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Thomas L. Friedman asks Trump and Vance: What is wrong with you people? Republican attacks against Kamala Harris as being childless reveal base tribal motivations for how society ought to be run; And who’s brainwashing whom? Do children ‘belong’ to … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, Politics, Religion | Comments Off on Tribal Human Nature Fights Back

The Incoherency of Religious Rationales

Posted on 20 July 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

It’s generally considered impolite to point out the irrationality and incoherency of religious faith, but sometimes the examples are so blatant, you wonder if they aren’t signs of some mental disorder. Like those cases where brain damage causes one side … Continue reading →

Posted in Meaning, Religion | Comments Off on The Incoherency of Religious Rationales

Never Mind Policy or Principles, Conservatives Need Only Stories

Posted on 18 July 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Politics and the Narrative Drive converge in items today. Robert Reich about how the GOP is courting unions; How J.D. Vance emphasizes his personal story rather than conservative principles; How Republicans cling to the myth of migrant crime; And how … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, conservatives, Narrative, Politics, Religion | Comments Off on Never Mind Policy or Principles, Conservatives Need Only Stories

Save the Children?

Posted on 11 July 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Never mind homeschooling; now there’s a cult of “unschooling”; Nascent thoughts about conservative morality, children, MAGA, and the return to a simpler past — which would be, childhood; How Oklahoma is letting right-wing figures (including David Barton) run its social … Continue reading →

Posted in conservatives, Education, MInd, Religion, Technology | Comments Off on Save the Children?

Stories, and Change

Posted on 9 July 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Miscellaneous items today, including a few from a couple weeks ago. Oklahoma, insisting the Bible be taught as an historical document, seems intent on mis-educating its children and ill-preparing them for life in the 21st century; How conservative attacks against … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Politics, Religion, Social Progress | Comments Off on Stories, and Change

Once You See It

Posted on 6 July 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

How issues in politics 100 years ago resemble those of today; How Republicans and Democrats live in radically different universes; What the “genius” of the American Founders were thinking; Zbigniew Preisner’s film score for Damage Once you see it, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, Morality, Music, Politics, Religion | Comments Off on Once You See It

The Supposed God-Shaped Hole, and Others

Posted on 5 July 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Via Jerry Coyne, a long piece at Quillette by Matt Johnson: Liberalism and the West’s ‘Crisis of Meaning’, subtitled “Many liberals are strangely eager to concede that liberal societies are morally and spiritually bankrupt without religion to give life meaning.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Religion, Tribalism | Comments Off on The Supposed God-Shaped Hole, and Others

On This July 4th

Posted on 4 July 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

It’s worth paying attention from time to time what conservatives really want, and more importantly, their rationales. NY Times, Ruth Graham, 4 Jul 2024: Why a New Conservative Brain Trust Is Resettling Across America, subtitled “Pro-Trump professionals aren’t just talking … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, conservatives, Psychology, Religion, Social Progress | Comments Off on On This July 4th

Fear of Fiction

Posted on 3 July 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

What is fiction, and why are most people attracted to it? This isn’t just about reading books or short stories; what also is the attraction of movies and TV shows that are all about imaginary people facing imaginary problems? Why … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, Narrative, Politics, Religion | Comments Off on Fear of Fiction

More About Regression Toward the Mean

Posted on 1 July 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Thought for the day. On the other hand, rather than thinking we must be living in the worst of times (see last Wednesday’s post), perhaps we are merely experience regression toward the mean. I’ve mentioned this notion several times. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Religion, Science | Comments Off on More About Regression Toward the Mean