Don’t Let Religions Take Myth LiterallyReviewing Karen Armstrong’s 2006 book, A Short History of Myth, I’m reminded of the mistake it was for religions to take the more…Apr 25, 2021Apr 25, 2021
When Mormons Had Their Own City-StateA review of Benjamin Park’s new book, Kingdom of Nauvoo: The Rise and Fall of a Religious Empire on the American Frontier (2020).Jul 6, 2020Jul 6, 2020
The Power of One IdeaWilliam James offers a way to evaluate the fruitfulness of ideas by tethering them to the common ground of lived experience.Jun 26, 2020Jun 26, 2020
Modern Mormonism Could Have Been Intellectually- and Liberally-MindedA glimpse into just how different contemporary Mormonism could have been had intellectual and liberal figures prevailed in leadership.Jun 21, 2020Jun 21, 2020
Fruits Not Roots: A Glance at America’s Greatest (or at Least Top-3) PhilosopherA brief look at the thought of William James, who puts philosophy in its proper place; it is nothing if it is not useful in our daily…Jun 21, 2020Jun 21, 2020
A Story of Sensationalizing and Otherizing an American FaithJon Krakauer's 2003 book is a compelling and worthwhile, albeit frustrating book.Jun 20, 2020Jun 20, 2020
Something to Challenge Atheists and Religionists AlikeAlain de Botton will make uncomfortable the most pious religionists and unyielding atheists in his endeavor to bring them into harmony…Jun 20, 2020Jun 20, 2020
‘The School of Life’ Preaches Pessimism over Romanticism‘The School of Life’ is on a crusade to avail us of our emotional ignorance. Philosopher Alain De Botton seeks to remedy the shortcomings…Nov 8, 2019Nov 8, 2019
‘God Is a Question’: an Atheist’s Invitation to Intellectual HumilityWilliam Irwin seeks to quell bad faith arguments and encourage greater acceptance of the uncertainty so endemic to life’s big questions.Jul 25, 2019Jul 25, 2019
The Precariousness of Societies without Moralizing GodsThe answer to whether complex civilizations or moralizing gods came first has significant ramifications for how we address social ills…Apr 20, 2019Apr 20, 2019