When we discuss religion, oftentimes we're talking about the institution. But James wants to get at the essence of religious belief, and for him, the institution is a bit of a sideshow. He's not interested in what lies in the psyche of an ordinary believer—the sort who prays or goes through the motions without actually … Continue reading William James: The Varieties of Religious Experience
First of all, I hope you're enjoying the holidays. I've been baking up a storm... Unfortunately I can only offer you a virtual sampling of treats. But if you look on the bright side, fewer calories. And now brace yourself for an awkward transition... I've been trying to wrap my mind around the split between the … Continue reading The Natural Attitude
Here's an update on what I've been doing instead of blogging... A few hours ago I got that peculiar feeling that I was being watched. I twisted around on the couch and saw a baby black bear peeking in through the screen door only a few feet away from me. (Sorry, no photos.) It was … Continue reading Fun, Fear, and Flamenco
A while back I did some Googling to find out whether someone out there had written a book similar to mine, and in my research I came across Charles Johnson's novel, Faith and The Good Thing. Too good to be true. He too makes use of the most powerful centerpieces in Plato's works: The Allegory of the … Continue reading The Challenges in Writing a Philosophical Novel
Geordie got to visit Santa Claus this year...he looks a bit skeptical here, but I think I'll convince him in the end. ("Of course this 22 year old kid isn't the real Santa Claus, but he's working for Santa. Santa's busy with your presents right now.") The weather forecast says we'll get snow on the mountain tomorrow, … Continue reading Happy Holidays!
