The genetic determinism of the “new synthesis” in biological studies in the 1930′s and 40′s proposed to have found the explanatory link between Darwinism’s processes of random variation and selective retention and transitions between generations with the discovery of the gene. It was the gene, via the structure of DNA, that served to pass the…
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The Trajectory of Human Culture is Both Positive and Negative
I enjoy responding to Tony Jones’ blog series “Questions That Haunt Christianity.” Recently he posted a question from a reader named Jesse. Below is Jesse’s question and my response. Jesse asks: Is the trajectory of our human culture/world/society positive or negative? In other words, are we fighting the long defeat until Christ returns to set…
The Invisible One – Unfolded ep. 8
Listen to The Invisible One on iTunes, Stitcher or Homebrewed Christianity. This story is inspired by John 4:7-9 Malcolm knocked on the door which was left half open by the last nurse, and slowly entered the room. He looked around and saw a figure move behind the dividing curtain which was pulled shut. He blinked,…
Economic Bug Fixes – Jaron Lanier, Who Owns the Future?
You might, for example, want to design a tablet to be pristine and platonic, without any physical buttons, but only a touchscreen. Wouldn’t that be more perfect and true to the ideal? But you can’t ever quite do it. Some extra physical buttons, to turn the thing on, for instance, turn out to be indispensable….
Every time we move, or think, we disturb the whole universe.
Whitehead’s argument is not that space and time don’t exist: they are simply secondary appearances, not the main feature of objective reality. In denouncing the fallacy of simple location Whitehead is asserting that no entity, nor any man, is an island. Every time we move, or think, we disturb the whole universe. As St. Paul…
Love Involves The Dissipation of The Emotions of Otherness
“Given this dynamic, we observed how love involves the dissipation of the emotions of otherness. This entails the dismantling of cognitive and emotional boundaries between the self and the other. We call this emotional identification “love” or “intimacy.” It is at this point that certain psychotherapeutic objections are raised. All this talk about dismantling or…
Where The Mushrooms Grew – A Sonnet for Natalie on Our 6th Anniversary
Beelzy’s Lot – Unfolded Ep. 7
This is episode 7 of the Unfolded Podcast. The story was written by Lyle Enright and you can listen to the episode here, here or here. … “So why don’t you come get me, then?” I said, breathing hard, my hands on my knees. “I can’t.” The response was harsh, and grey-sounding. A little…
We Have Purposes for Our Purposes
Ever wonder what Socrates meant when he said “the unexamined life is not worth living?” I’ll take a crack at explaining. Basically, when we talk about “purpose” we can talk about two types: first-order purpose (or quasi-purpose) and second-order purpose (self-reflective purpose). First order purpose is basically what distinguishes living things from matter. It is…
The Escapement – Unfolded Ep. 6
This is episode 6 of the Unfolded Podcast. You can listen to this episode on itunes, Stitcher or Homebrewed Christianity. … 1320 A.D. Brother Ferdinand had been in the sanctuary since before daybreak, and the church was dark except for three flickering white candles. He enjoyed listening to the liquid flowing steadily into the vertical…