Category Archives: Theorists

It’s raining Freud and dogs

Just when we’ve finished up the Freud unit in the Nature of Religious Experience course. Headline from the Chronicle of Higher Education: Delusional Suspect in Community-College Stabbing Thought He Had Attacked Missouri Governor. The student who stabbed a community-college dean … Continue reading

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Colbert versus Erhman

The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Bart Ehrman www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Fox News

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Christian Science new truce with medicine

NY Times reports the church rethinks its opposition to members seeking medical treatment. [F]aced with dwindling membership and blows to their church’s reputation caused by its intransigence concerning medical treatment, even for children with grave illnesses, Christian Science leaders have … Continue reading

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Where’s Howard?

I’m on Twitter. One person I followed very early was Howard Rheingold. He’s an amazing guy. We had just a short email correspondence when I asked if I could use some of his social media tips for my PHIL 525 … Continue reading

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When Sociologists Get Religion

As my students know, Durkheim, the “father of sociology”, had a great deal to say about religion. Some of it, from my point of view, helpful. Sherkat, a professor of sociology at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, no longer has … Continue reading

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Why church isn’t the same as faith

This isn’t a news flash, but I enjoy seeing issues we discuss in class echoed in the media. Andrew Sullivan posts this quote from Paul Zahl who’s discussing the work of Emil Brunner (d. 1966). A reflection by Brunner’s former … Continue reading

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Echoes of Schleiermacher

I receive monthly greetings from a Benedictine abbot, Abbot Philip. He’s the Abbot of Christ in the Desert in New Mexico. They were the site of a Discovery Channel show in 2006. I wrote and asked his permission to quote … Continue reading

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Anne Rice’s return

I’ve re-checked out from the library Anne rice’s Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession for probably the third time. This time I’m actually reading the book. I am not a fan of vampires so I “missed out” on the … Continue reading

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Stoicism and emotions

Stoicism is experiencing a resurgence. I’m not sure why, but it is. This interview with Margaret Graver present a look at some misconceptions of stoicism. Here’s a quote from A.A. Long (Classics, UC Berkeley) about Graver’s book, Stoicism and Emotion: … Continue reading

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Example of a mystical experience

Watch just the first few minutes of this clip until the credits (the whole clip is over 20 minutes). Sounds like a Jamesean mystical experience to me.

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