Category Archives: Religion

The Obsolete Ideal of the Nuclear Family?

Posted on Saturday 26 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Two pieces about how the idealistic nuclear family beloved by conservatives has been an aberration in human history and is perhaps no longer suited for the modern world; Pondering the hunter-gatherer lifestyle, and Cain and Abel; Items about Trump and … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Religion | Comments Off on The Obsolete Ideal of the Nuclear Family?

Freedom, Liberty, and Religion

Posted on Wednesday 23 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Liberty and freedom, vs. conformity to religion; More on how some Christians now think Jesus was too “woke”; How Republicans politicians lie, because it works: their “distorted reality insulates right-wing media consumers from contradictions and challenges to their beliefs”; And … Continue reading →

Posted in Morality, Religion | Comments Off on Freedom, Liberty, and Religion

Jocks In, Academics Out

Posted on Thursday 17 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

How that college in Florida is transforming itself to focusing on jocks, rather than academics; How at least one commentator thinks Trump is doomed and will go to jail, while I’m not so sure; Then several items about conservatives’ explicit … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Politics, Religion | Comments Off on Jocks In, Academics Out

Why I Hate Pop Concerts

Posted on Monday 14 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Today’s lead article is about those of us who dislike attending pop concerts, even of singers and bands we otherwise admire and adore; Then, about PragerU; the “lost boys” on the American Right; and Lukianoff & Haidt’s book about Coddling, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Music, Politics, Religion | Comments Off on Why I Hate Pop Concerts

The Slow Death of Lawns in Deserts

Posted on Sunday 13 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Major item today about the slow death of lawns in deserts, especially in the US southwest; Then a few quick items, about the decline of Christianity, and Scientology’s psychological torture; And a musical piece by Ludovico Einaudi. – – – … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Music, Religion | Comments Off on The Slow Death of Lawns in Deserts

America’s Dominance and Decline

Posted on Sunday 6 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Just one substantial item today, compared to the several posted yesterday. If America is so great by some economic and military standards, why is our quality of life, compared to so many other countries around the world, so poor? Concluding … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Human Progress, Religion | Comments Off on America’s Dominance and Decline

The Small Town Song and Human Morality, and other topics

Posted on Monday 31 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

More thoughts about that Small Town song, in that it reflects one stage (stage 3 of 6, actually) in a hierarchy of human morality; Facebook posts about religious claims, and Brian Cox’s take on the UFO hearings; And Republican plans … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Lunacy, Morality, Religion | Comments Off on The Small Town Song and Human Morality, and other topics

Demographic Shifts

Posted on Tuesday 25 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Issues with the increasing number of old people in the US; Issues with the fragmentation of evangelical churches. Salon, Mary Elizabeth Williams, 23 Jul 2023: Live long and flounder: An aging expert on the looming crisis of our longer lifespans, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Religion | Comments Off on Demographic Shifts

A Predictable Trend; Ideas about Patriotism

Posted on Tuesday 4 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Two items about the decades-long trend of the decline (even) in the US of allegiance to organized religion, and how this fits into the theme of primitive v. mature moralities; Heather Cox Richardson reflects on the stages of American independence; … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Politics, Religion | Comments Off on A Predictable Trend; Ideas about Patriotism

Ideology vs. Reality, Endlessly

Posted on Monday 3 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Is this the core issue to rule them all? Since the survival of humanity seems to be in the balance? Item’s today: How the Supreme Court’s anti-LGBTQ case should never have been brought; How the rise of the religious far … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Evolution, Human Progress, Music, Politics, Religion | Comments Off on Ideology vs. Reality, Endlessly