How wild and crazy was I during my youth? I shared my religious and political views with abandon. Oh, the stories I could tell … Over time, I’ve made adjustments to the way I communicate. In my experience, addressing hot-button topics on Facebook often does more harm than good. Also, spending time on social mediaContinue reading “When do you talk religion and politics?”
Author Archives: Elizabeth Whitworth
4 ways to figure out what’s true and what isn’t
Feeling inundated with information about COVID-19? Before that, perhaps it was the impeachment or Brexit or The Bachelor finale. How do you know what bits of information are true? Here are a few ways to get closer to the truth about anything: 1 Consult multiple reliable sources. See where the consensus lies. 2 Use commonContinue reading “4 ways to figure out what’s true and what isn’t”
What did Mr. Rogers think about?
Did you watch Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood when you were a kid? I watched it a bit, but now I wished I had watched it more. I say that, now that I know more about Fred Rogers. We watched the documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? at a meetup with The Thinkery in Vancouver. We all were impressedContinue reading “What did Mr. Rogers think about?”
How to prepare tea (for heaven’s sake)
I get asked all the time (not really) about the right way to prepare tea. The main thing is to steep it according to directions. Do not (I implore you) add anything to it or (even worse) drink it while it’s steeping, and (for crying out loud) remove the leaves from the water when theContinue reading “How to prepare tea (for heaven’s sake)”
Jealousy is love
Their jaws dropped. They stared at me with eyes wide open. Just like the time I told them that there will be sex in heaven. It’s not unusual for us to have brain-bending and mind-blowing moments our meetups with The Thinkery. This time, though, an audible, synchronous gasp filled the air outside the coffee house, whereContinue reading “Jealousy is love”
No, I don’t forgive you.
I’ve been wronged. Yeah, I know I’m not alone. You, too, have been wronged. Perhaps like me, you’ve struggled with forgiving people who wronged you. Every time I think I have a handle on what it means to forgive, I have trouble fully translating the philosophical into the practical. I think I finally know why. ItContinue reading “No, I don’t forgive you.”
Why do you (or don’t you) trust the Bible?
If you trust the Bible as a historical and holy book, what is the reason(s)? Is it any of these? Because you always have. Because you like what’s in it. Because you have examined the evidence and found that the weight of evidence points to its trustworthiness. If you don’t trust the Bible as aContinue reading “Why do you (or don’t you) trust the Bible?”
The lamb does not save himself.
The Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for those who were not clean in order to consecrate the people to the Lord. The people stood by watching. But the rulers with them scoffed, saying, “Let the lamb save himself.” The first sentence is from 2 Chronicles 30:17. The second and third sentences don’t belong there. WhatContinue reading “The lamb does not save himself.”
He had a daughter called Gigi.
George Floyd had a daughter called Gigi. She is six years old. He also had a son named Quincy, a brother named Philonese, a cousin named Tera, and an uncle named Selwyn. He and Courteney were engaged to be married. George was a Texan, like me. A star on his high school football team, heContinue reading “He had a daughter called Gigi.”
Is faith rational? It depends.
“How well do CBT [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy] and religion mix? CBT is all about rationality, and religion is often about faith. The two seem kind of opposite. … CBT is … grounded in western empiracism and rationality, and faith is something that is very much different.” (Jason M. Satterfield • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Techniques for RetrainingContinue reading “Is faith rational? It depends.”
