http://www.salon.com/2014/11/01/the_sad_twisted_truth_about_conservative_christianitys_effect_on_the_mind_partner/

It looks like I have a new term to add to my vocabulary: Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS).

“Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) is a new term, coined by Marlene Winell to name a recognizable set of symptoms experienced as a result of…[Read more]

Below is a link to Sam Harris addressing the accusation that atheists tend to read religious scriptures literally. I’ve watched this a few times. The more I listen to it, the more his answer bothers me. He basically argues that a more moderate reading of scripture is a form of “cherry picking” in which the best parts are accepted and the worst…[Read more]

Anyone else watching? I just borrowed access from a friend to see it. I love seasons 1 and 2. Season 3 was disappointing. And season 4 has made me start to lose interest. It’s as if all they are going for now is shock and awe.

I have all week off next week. I can’t wait. I have to work tomorrow to cover for someone, but after that nothing for several days. Last time I had a week off, it took 3 days to finally start to relax. Here’s hoping it happens sooner this time.

I consider myself to be quite a bit of a nihilist. I believe that in turning our backs on external dogma (and metanarratives in general), we free ourselves to accept personal responsibility for the principles by which we live. I love the end of this video: “Nihilism opens up a space where [people] can create their own values.”…[Read more]

Anyone who shops at Amazon can help David out by clicking through his “Books” tab on NakedPastor.com. That link is a referral link. So, anything (well, most things) you buy will generate a kickback for sending them traffic. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it is extra cash for David.…[Read more]

This has been a wonderful series. I am very interested in how power-structure influence social behavior. To watch the story develop that began with “planned obsolescence” (part 1) to “stickiness” (in part 3) made me not only think about how corporate marketing works, but how church marketing works.

Create and capitalize on fear –> sell hope

If…[Read more]

Dogma was mentioned by @cecelia_davidson yesterday(?) on the FB group(?). It reminded me of how much I loved this movie. I saw it with a group of fellow students back in seminary. Some of us loved it; others not so much. I did a quick search, and here’s the whole movie. Time to watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aEpWaXvzMM

I was catching up on a blog I like, and the most recent article really drew me in.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2014/07/co-workers-with-the-gods.html

The part that really caught my eye was this:

When the Spirituality folks ask “is the veil thinning?” they’re anticipating an unveiling or an uncovering, a time when wisdom will be reve…

[Read more]

Here is an interview regarding his new book.

http://religionforlife.podomatic.com/entry/2014-04-24T06_05_37-07_00

I found his description of the apostles’ visions as hallucinations as exceptionally interesting. He says that it’s not uncommon for people to have “visions” of loved ones after they die. When a child, my mom had a “vision” of her…[Read more]

I’ve been listening to this interview with John Dominick Crossan by Tripp Fuller on Homebrewed Christianity. Crossan is an historical Jesus scholar. I love the way he puts parables in perspective.

http://homebrewedchristianity.com/2014/05/23/from-jesus-parables-to-parables-of-god-with-john-dominic-crossan/