I have been setting an intention to approach politics from a place of love rather than fear. Practices like this help me.
Category: Politics and Love
How to Make a Good Argument
Everyone can learn how to make a good argument. This post is about how to do that. An Experience with a Class I Teach Every semester (almost), I have a day that is the highlight of my semester. Yesterday, I had one of those days. One of the classes I am teaching this semester is… Continue reading How to Make a Good Argument
This Post is about Balaam’s Ass
There is a weird story in the Old Testament about Balaam's ass. It has always fascinated me.[1] We don’t know a lot about Balaam. It appears that he was some kind of prophet who lived near the Euphrates River and had some kind of meaningful connection to God. Or at least people thought he did.… Continue reading This Post is about Balaam’s Ass
Is Your Morality Motivated by Love or Tribalism?
People can behave morally and promote morality for immoral reasons. That is an odd claim, isn't it? After all, we generally think of morality as good, and we think of moral people as good people. So how could a person be moral for bad reasons? How would we even know if this was the case?… Continue reading Is Your Morality Motivated by Love or Tribalism?
Avoiding Argument Pitfall #3: Circular Reasoning
This post is about avoiding the argument pitfall of circular reasoning, and it is part of a series on thinking critically. You can find links to other posts in this series at the end of the post. When We Care A Lot about Issues If you are anything like me, you have issues you care… Continue reading Avoiding Argument Pitfall #3: Circular Reasoning
On the Saying, “We Need an Amoral President in Office So He Can Get Stuff Done”
Since President Trump first began his campaign for president, even before he was elected, many people, both Republicans and Democrats, raised concerns about Trump's seeming lack of moral principles. And people have continued to raise this concern all throughout his presidency. (I wrote a post myself about it here.) Some people have countered such concerns… Continue reading On the Saying, “We Need an Amoral President in Office So He Can Get Stuff Done”
On the Saying, “The World is Just Going to Get Worse Until Jesus Returns, So There’s Nothing We Can Do to Make It Better”
In my last post and this post, I have been writing from the perspective of someone who is a Christian reflecting on some troubling things that I often hear other Christians say. So, I beg pardon of my non-Christian readers. I hope you might find these posts interesting or cathartic as well, but if you… Continue reading On the Saying, “The World is Just Going to Get Worse Until Jesus Returns, So There’s Nothing We Can Do to Make It Better”
On the Saying, “God Sometimes Uses Wicked Rulers to Accomplish His Purposes”.
When U.S. presidents behave badly, it is quite common for people in their own party to find ways to excuse the president’s behavior. This has certainly been the case with President Trump. Trump’s character is marred by very public instances of infidelity; lying; shady business deals; racist and sexist comments; cruelty to immigrant families; chaotic… Continue reading On the Saying, “God Sometimes Uses Wicked Rulers to Accomplish His Purposes”.
A Christian Reflects on Why Christians are the Very Worst Sometimes
This is one of those posts that runs the risk of alienating a lot of people. I think it may alienate some people who are not Christian and who might wonder why I am bothering to write the post at all. And I think it may alienate a lot of Christians who don’t like being… Continue reading A Christian Reflects on Why Christians are the Very Worst Sometimes
Reasons I Wear a Facemask that Might Surprise You
I wear a Facemask, and the reasons I do might surprise you. Facemask Debates Since the Coronavirus took over the world, there has been a lot of debate over whether people should wear facemasks to help prevent the spread of the virus. Increasingly, medical experts and government officials encourage people to wear masks when they… Continue reading Reasons I Wear a Facemask that Might Surprise You