News items from the past week include how fear is used by political leaders, how Christianity has changed in America, how evangelization depends upon the objectification of those being evangelized, problems with proselytization in public hospitals, problems with Muslim orthodoxy, and more.

Denying the Political Dimensions of Fear
That fear is used for political purposes is undeniable - throughout history political and religious leaders have encouraged fear in people in order to garner their support for particular agendas. More interesting, though, is how fear can be used for political ends while denying that the causes of fear are themselves political in nature.

What is Pragmatism? History of Pragmatism
Pragmatism is an American philosophy from the early 20th century. According to Pragmatism, the truth or meaning of an idea or a proposition lies in its observable practical consequences rather than anything metaphysical. It can be summarized by the phrase 'whatever works, is likely true.' Because reality changes, 'whatever works' will also change - thus, truth must also be changeable and no one can claim to possess any final or ultimate truth.

Book Reviews: Books from Oneworld Publications
An independent publisher based in Oxford, England, Oneworld Publications specializes in books on topics like comparative religions, mysticism, philosophy, psychology and more. I've found a lot of very good books from Oneworld and am always eager to see what else they may have published recently.

Objectification and Evangelization
They go hand-in-hand

Dissolving Christianity in America
Changing Focus of Conservative Evangelic

Pandering to Religious Special Interests
Happens too often

Liberty is the Right to be Offensive
Some don't like liberty

Muslim Orthodoxy vs. Innovation
Religious, Political, and Social

Proselytizing in Public Hospitals
Should it be allowed?

Did Jesus Exist?
Robert Price vs. Richard Ostling

 

User Polls:

1) What Effect Would Gay Marriage Have?
There is a lot of debate about the legalization of gay marriage. Many see it as a necessary condition for gays having equal rights while others treat it as a sign of the decline of civilization. Would gay marriage really have any great impact?

2) Would You Torture a Baby to Bring Peace to Humanity?
A character in Dostoyevsky's, Brothers Karamazov said "Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end, giving them peace and rest at last, but that it was essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creature - that baby beating its breast with its fist, for instance - and to found that edifice on its unavenged tears, would you consent to be the architect on those conditions? Tell me, and tell the truth?"

3) Should the Pledge of Allegiance Be Exempt from Court Challenge?
Religious conservatives want to bar federal courts from hearing any challenges to the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance. They want to ensure that no one can have the phrase 'under God' removed. Is this a good idea?