By: John Muhanji on February 27, 2020
The word” Enlightenment” brings with it both positive and negative memories to various communities of the world. It also does the same to the African communities, which still haunts them to date. Africa was a peaceful continent, and people were living in peace in their cultural communities until the enlightenment came up and the need…
By: Mario Hood on February 27, 2020
Another week with Pinker, and now I understand more why people dislike him. Although I picked up on his voraciousness last week when it came to religion.[1] This week, while reading Blank Slate, it seemed I discovered that much of his writing when approaching his opponents, he deploys an attacking style rather than dismantling their…
By: Rev Jacob Bolton on February 27, 2020
Needless to say, my hope is that every single member of our cohort finishes their dissertation, graduates with honors, earns the highly coveted title “Doctor of Ministry” and then is able to achieve all our hopes and dreams in large part because of the what we have learned together in the Leadership and Global Perspectives…
By: Shawn Cramer on February 27, 2020
Innovation excels with diversity of thought, skills, and importance. As I consider the future of the US and the complex (“wicked”) problems facing it, I see a desperation for creative and innovative solutions, yet an apathy for “reaching across the aisle” in faith and politics. No one side has the worldview, resources, or perspective to…
By: Rhonda Davis on February 27, 2020
Pinker, former director of MIT’s Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, writes about the hot button topic of gender differences in his book, Blank Slate. He begins the discussion with an explanation of the two schools of feminist thought: Equity feminism is part of the classical liberal tradition and opposes sexual discrimination and unfairness to women.[1] Gender…
By: Jer Swigart on February 27, 2020
Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of my dad’s passing. It was a sacred, impossible, hilarious, formational eight-month journey of liver cancer. I was privileged to accompany him all the way to the river then watched as he took the most difficult step that we take in life’s journey: from this life to the life beyond.…
By: Tammy Dunahoo on February 27, 2020
When she opened the door and opened her arms to me there was a strange complexity of emotion. I suddenly became the infant she never held, angry that she didn’t, but now wanted her to. The violent storm raging inside was unnoticeable on the outside as I walked calmly into her home. We stood in…
By: Greg Reich on February 26, 2020
As a parent we learn early on that seeking perfection is overrated and the realization that imperfection can be a huge blessing. As a father of four I am so very thankful for each of my children. I am a nostalgic old codger at times and like many parents I have many keepsakes and memories…
By: John Muhanji on February 26, 2020
…. sorry for the late posting!! Peterson brings out an argument that is challenging from all levels of life. It is challenging from both intellectual and non-intellectual perspectives. Peterson offers a critical guide to the riches of archaic and modern thoughts, that is constructing meaning in a way that is compliant with the modern science…
By: Darcy Hansen on February 24, 2020
On September 5, 1918 in Game 1 of the World Series the Boston Red Socks were playing the Chicago Cubs. Tensions ran high in a nation where 100,000 soldiers already died during the US involvement in WWI. A heaviness was palatable at this lower-than-usual attendance game. In an effort to lift the spirits of all…
By: Dylan Branson on February 24, 2020
During January, we had an awkward amount of time between the end of examination period and the Lunar New Year holiday. There wasn’t enough time to begin a new unit or do any “real” teaching, so I pulled out one of the more interesting group discussions for a class activity. The premise was simple: A…
By: Steve Wingate on February 24, 2020
Haidt wrote that learning is hard work but primarily comes through experience. “This book is about why it’s so hard for us to get along. We are indeed all stuck here for a while, so let’s at least do what we can to understand why we are so easily divided into hostile groups, each one…
By: Joe Castillo on February 24, 2020
You are intelligent, liberal and well informed. He can’t understand why working-class Americans vote for Republicans. He thinks they have been duped, but he is wrong. This accusation did not see Ne from the right. It is a warning from Jonathan Haidt (New York, 1963), a social psychologist at the University of Virginia who, until…
By: Nancy VanderRoest on February 24, 2020
As I write this paper on Pinker this morning, I reflect on the day ahead. I will be serving as guest minister at the Paw Paw Presbyterian Church today (thank you for this opportunity, Jacob!), babysitting my beautiful grandmunchkins this afternoon, and dinner plans this evening. So, my heart and mind are conflicted at this…
By: Shermika Harvey on February 24, 2020
The invasion of the sacred sanctum of my world has commenced once again. Within the internal hallways of the temple lies the battle between intellect and spirit, and society and kingdom. For the sake of education and knowledge, I have embarked on this journey, but in no fashion is this an enjoyable encounter. Sometimes, the…
By: Digby Wilkinson on February 24, 2020
Hi friends, this comes late after a wedding and other family-related events. So, did I read Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress?[1] Refer to Pierre Bayard.[2] Mr Rogers has been very helpful too (see the end). A story. The once a man struggling through his midlife years. A symptom…
By: Chris Pollock on February 23, 2020
‘In the world but, not of the world.’ This is a political statement. It is not from scripture, though it could almost be iterated as if it was. Some scriptures come close, like ones in the Gospel of John or Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome. Nevertheless, I have heard these words repeated ad…
By: Wallace Kamau on February 23, 2020
There’s a commonly used quote attributed to Earl Nightingale, “Everyone is self-made but only the successful admit it”, to the effect that every person is the master of their fate and the captain of their destiny. Quotes are very popular and are often used and make written or spoken language beautiful and its common not…
By: Mary Mims on February 22, 2020
Humans have been fascinated with time travel for some time now. One would only have to look at the plethora of Hollywood movies that deal with the subject of time travel such as “Back to the Future”, “The Terminator”, “Time After Time”, and one of my favorites, “Somewhere in Time”. It seems there is…
By: Tammy Dunahoo on February 21, 2020
“Why should I live?” This was the question posed by a student to Steven Pinker, cognitive psychologist and Harvard professor. He then took an evangelistic posture to share his worldview with the young woman. He explained that though this was not in his “usual job description as a professor of cognitive science,” he was…
