Spirituality is for everyone. But we often don’t realize this because we hear very little about spirituality, or we get confusing messages about it. People define spirituality in different ways, but in this post, I define our spirituality as that part of us that that helps us connect with our higher self. We may conceive… Continue reading Spirituality: Why It’s for Everyone
Author: shellypruittjohnson
Does It Pay to Be Good?
Does it pay to be good? At one point in our life, probably most of us ask ourselves this question. After all, sometimes it feels like trying to be good holds us back from things we desire. And sometimes it feels like people who break the rules get ahead and achieve their dreams more easily.… Continue reading Does It Pay to Be Good?
Walking 10,000 Steps a Day for 2 and ½ Years
I have been walking 10,000+ steps a day for two and a half years, and it is one of the best things in my life. It is, in fact, one of the best gifts I have ever given myself. So, I like to write periodically about my walking and the benefits it brings. You can… Continue reading Walking 10,000 Steps a Day for 2 and ½ Years
How Ethics Can Help Us Be a Good Partner and Friend
If we want strong, loving relationships with partners and friends, ethics can help us. When we have a strong ethics, we adopt certain principles that aim for a higher good both for ourselves and others. And we act consistently according to these principles. Some examples of common ethical principles are the following: Act with virtues… Continue reading How Ethics Can Help Us Be a Good Partner and Friend
How to Spot Illegitimate Appeal to Emotion
Illegitimate appeal to emotion is a common fallacy people use in everyday conversation. On the one hand, emotions are a crucial part of our life. They give us important feedback about positive and negative aspects of life. Our emotions can also warn us of danger or of exciting possibilities. On the other hand, emotions can… Continue reading How to Spot Illegitimate Appeal to Emotion
The Idols of the Mind: Common Thinking Errors
The Idols of the Mind, developed by philosopher Francis Bacon, can help us understand better how to avoid thinking errors. Most of understand hypothetically that we can commit thinking errors. We usually imagine that these errors proceed from common causes like the following: One: Not paying careful attention to what we are thinking about. Two:… Continue reading The Idols of the Mind: Common Thinking Errors
Should the United States Be a Christian Nation?
Lately in the news, I have heard various people claim that the United States should be a Christian nation. Some folks also argue that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. I will return to this point shortly. Now, I am a Christian from the Quaker Christian tradition. And sometimes when I hear… Continue reading Should the United States Be a Christian Nation?
How to Be a Kind Person (and How it Helps You)
Most of us suspect that being a kind person is a good idea for various reasons. But we may not know how to be kind or if kindness in fact helps us or anyone else. We often struggle with such concerns because we aren’t sure exactly what kindness is, and we often carry several common… Continue reading How to Be a Kind Person (and How it Helps You)
How to Think for Yourself
It’s important to know how to think for yourself. Being able to do this is important especially for two reasons. The First Reason First, there are a lot of people in the world who would love to do your thinking for you. That way they can get you to believe what they want you to… Continue reading How to Think for Yourself
A Tricky Thing about Rights
I have been thinking about rights a lot lately because of some units I teach on ethics and politics. There is something very tricky about rights, and most of us (including me) often don’t consider it. I became aware of this issue years ago when I first read a quote by Voltaire that goes something… Continue reading A Tricky Thing about Rights