Tag Archives: culture wars
Six Graphs and Six New Year Reflections
Graph 1 – The two main political parties in America exhibit near equal distain for each other. Extreme partisanship amplifies this polarization even further. It’s worth spending time considering these data. Only 8% of Republicans believe Democrats are honest and … Continue reading
Modeling Christian Public Discourse
“All models are wrong, but some are useful” – British statistician George Box I first ran across this famous quote early in my science career while writing my thesis on the effects of habitat variation on recruitment of pink salmon … Continue reading
The Rise of the Nones
Have you ever heard of the nones? They are one of the latest hot topics in the area of faith and culture. Nones, or people who check “none” or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religious affiliation, once comprised … Continue reading
The Sin of Winsomeness
I still remember the phone call which launched one of the key changepoints of my life. It was October 2002 and I was sitting along mom’s bedside in a Wisconsin intensive care facility. Dad was next door, still in intensive … Continue reading
Hope or Hopelessness
The division in America could swiftly change if the Christian church heeded the calling of 1 Peter 2:21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” Continue reading
The Indispensable Imperative of Virtue
“Most people say that it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character” – Albert Einstein So begins the opening line of a leadership paper a former colleague Doug DeMaster and I wrote a … Continue reading
Wide is the Gate and Broad is the Way
“We don’t collect news to inform us. We collect news to affirm us.” – Frank Lutz, Republican pollster Frank’s observation isn’t new, of course. Centuries ago, Goethe said “each see in the world what is present in their heart.” But it’s … Continue reading
Are Our Beliefs Warranted?
Ten years ago, we pulled up stakes and moved to the “lower 48.” It was hard leaving Alaska but easy to live in Seattle as we were closer to our children, to much of our family, and in a job … Continue reading
Of Soldiers and Scouts
The late Richard Feynman, one of the great scientists of the 20th century and a notable influence in my physics education, once said “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person … Continue reading