Here I continue discussion of the book How to Think about God: A Guide for the 20th-century Pagan by Mortimer Adler. If you have read chapters 6 and 7, feel free to comment. If not, feel free to ask a question. In about a week I will take up chapters 8 and 9 for discussion. In these two chapters Adler argues that “God” is a unique word. Whatever it designates does not belong to a category. At least not in... Read more

I was teaching theology at Bethel College and Seminary (now Bethel University) in Minnesota. The announcement went out to the whole community that Surgeon General C. Everett Koop would speak in the convocation chapel on a particular day. I attended somewhat reluctantly because I assumed he would speak about the evils of smoking. Koop was a major enemy of tobacco and was on a campaign to regulate it and stop children and young people from smoking. Koop was also an... Read more

I have followed the comments and proposals of a particular advisor to the POTUS (2025-). I heard the man say that we, the US, should not give aid to foreign countries (or the people in them) unless we, the US, get something out of it. No giving aid just out of compassion. Is It Evil to Institutionalize the Disabled? More recently, I read a news account of a memo in which the advisor allegedly suggests that disabled people in the... Read more

Here I continue discussion of the book How to Think about God by Mortimer Adler. If you have read Part Two (chapters 4 and 5) feel free to comment. If not, feel fee to question. In about one week I will take up Part Three, chapters 6 and 7. Part Two is titled “Errors to Be Avoided.” In sum, they have to do with traditional apologetics, even natural theology, that argues for God’s existence based on the necessity of a... Read more

This is part 3 of a series of essays about how to be a critical thinker. We need more people to be that. I have always been one and have suffered for it. And yet, I don’t regret being one. Throughout my education and career I have had a greater degree of acumen than most of my peers. Why? I attribute it to my voracious reading. Reading wires the brain to think critically. I assume that IF I had played... Read more

Here I begin a new book discussion. You are invited to participate. If you have read the “assigned” chapter(s), feel free to comment. If not, feel free to ask a question. The book is How to Think about God: A Guide for the 20th-century Pagan by philosopher Mortimer Adler. Today’s section is Part One—Prologue, especially Chapters 1 and 2. Next, in about a week, I will take up Part Two, Chapters 4 and 5. My first comment is about the... Read more

I began this series in the immediately preceding essay. You should read that before reading this one. There I suggested two habits that enhance critical thinking: reading and suspicion. Read widely and deeply. Fiction and nonfiction. Simply reading rewires the brain to think critically. Scientific studies have shown it. Receive messages that contain truth claims made authoritatively with suspicion. Especially when you are expected to believe them and when they are controlling. Whether it be a sermon or a lecture... Read more

Here I begin a series of thoughts about critical thinking. What does it mean to be a critical thinker? What does it mean to think critically? Why is critical thinking important? What power does critical thinking have? Critical thinking is important because otherwise people, both individuals and groups, are easily manipulated by influential but wrong messages and codes. Critical thinking is the ground and ability to say no to such. And such are always around and changing reality. Only critical... Read more

One week from today (Wednesday, June 17) I will begin discussing here How to Think About God: A Guide for the 20th-Century Pagan by philosopher Mortimer Adler. My used copy arrived from abebooks.com within a week. It cost less than $10. So why this book? I read it years ago and found it stimulating, not only because Adler, then a self-confessed pagan himself, presented some very strong reasons for believing in God but also because the book itself is a... Read more

I don’t hate to tell you “I told you so.” In fact, I love it when I am vindicated. For years I have been saying on this blog that AFTER denominations and churches affirm and bless gay marriage they will have to eventually affirm and bless polyamory/polygamy. Let me say here with emphasis…Here I AM NOT making any value judgements about LGBTQ lifestyles OUTSIDE Christianity. I am NOT talking about what should or should not be legal. I am ONLY... Read more