Why do bad things happen to good people?Why is there suffering in the world?Why are there earthquakes and typhoons and other disasters? No philosophy or religion has ever generated a … Continue reading Bad Things and Good People: A Quick Intro to Theodicy
Let’s Talk About Feelings: Anger and Power (Part 3 of 3)
Christianity and Anger Earlier in this series, I went on a bit of a tirade about Christianity and depression. Christianity’s complicated history with anger, on the other hand, merits an … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Feelings: Anger and Power (Part 3 of 3)
Demons: Guilt & Consequence
So, let me see if I’ve got this right:There is an afterlife! Yes, as it turns out, after we shuffle off this mortal coil, we’ll still have some variety of … Continue reading Demons: Guilt & Consequence
Haunted Elevators: Inverting the Sacred Vertical
Over the last few decades, haunted elevators have become a staple of theme park rides and seasonal haunted houses. This trope appears all over popular media too. From the haunted … Continue reading Haunted Elevators: Inverting the Sacred Vertical
Let’s Talk About Feelings: Anger and Power (Part 2 of 3)
Anger’s Equal/Opposite: PowerAnger almost always comes from a place of feeling helpless or threatened, so the best way to deescalate someone’s anger is to empower them. How can I regain … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Feelings: Anger and Power (Part 2 of 3)
The Gentle Spirituality of Bluey
As a still-pretty-new parent, I spend a lot of time watching children’s TV, and one show that my wife, daughter, and I all adore is Disney’s Bluey. In fact, no … Continue reading The Gentle Spirituality of Bluey
Plague Doctors: Malevolent Medicine
As a child, I remember going to the Pink Palace Museum in Memphis, TN, and walking through the Civil War Medicine exhibit. It was gruesome to say the least. Dioramas … Continue reading Plague Doctors: Malevolent Medicine
Let’s Talk About Feelings: Anger and Power (Part 1 of 3)
What Is Anger?That churning feeling in the gut which erupts up through the body and makes us see red, anger can vary in intensity from mild frustration to outright rage. … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Feelings: Anger and Power (Part 1 of 3)
Aliens: The Hostile Unknown
I’ve written about this before, but I’m fascinated by our relationship with aliens. In particular, there’s a whole sect of pseudoscientists who try to explain every phenomenon as caused by … Continue reading Aliens: The Hostile Unknown
Let’s Talk About Feelings: Sadness and Joy (Part 2 of 2)
Sadness’s Equal/Opposite: JoyExuberance, excitement, energy, cheer— everything absent in sadness is present in joy. Where sadness may create distance and disinterest, joy generates playfulness and stimulation. While sadness lends itself … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Feelings: Sadness and Joy (Part 2 of 2)