Young Trevor Noah on God’s Will
Trevor Noah shares a harrowing experience from his childhood in South Africa and disputes with his mother the role God’s will played in the event.
Saluting a Flag Doesn’t Make You Patriotic
Saluting a flag doesn’t make you patriotic. Standing for an anthem doesn’t either.
What Research Shows About How Selfish We Are
Free market capitalism often assumes a high degree of selfishness, and competing systems, such as socialism, often assume a degree of cooperation. But what does the research show?
Antonio Banderas Speaks Out on the Need for Latino Unity and How the U.S. Facilitates It
Antonio Banderas received a Platino Award last year in a ceremony in Marbella, Spain. The actor took the chance to call for more Latino unity across Spanish-speaking countries as well as to recognize that the United States is where he has ironically seen the Latino best come together.
Moses Never Encountered Another Primate
Yet another snippet from primatologist Frans de Waal’s book, in which he offers an interesting hypothesis about why some religious traditions struggle with the theory of evolution.
The Difference Between Science and Religion Isn’t the Individuals
Primatologist Frans de Waal considers whether there are any substantive behavioral differences in the way of thinking between religious people and scientists, ultimately rejecting any such claim. He reasons that no individual is exempt from cognitive biases, and that the true significant differences between the theories of religion and science stem from the culture and communities surrounding them.
Casual Ex-Catholics vs. Strict Ex-Protestants
A Dutch observer compares ex-Catholics to ex-Protestants and proposes that the type of religious adherent one was deeply affects the type of atheist one becomes after leaving.
Reading Analysis for 2015
I thought it would be interesting to do some basic analyses on what books I read in 2015. Because #nerd.
Book Review: Patrick Mason’s Planted
If I were to compile a list of all the things my fringe Mormon friends and I wish our traditional counterparts understood about us, this book addresses them all. If you’re seeking to understand a Mormon family member or friend who doesn’t really fit in the church, or if you are the one who doesn’t fit in but you really want to try to find a safe, healthy place to belong, I think this book will be helpful
Announcing My Preliminary Presidential Endorsements
So far, the lack of qualified, serious, trustworthy candidates running for president in 2016 is pretty notable. And yes, the election is still a year away. I will nonetheless announce my top two candidates thus far. I think everyone can agree that these two have set themselves apart from the rest of the field.