October the fifth is my birthday, but since I love birthdays and parties with friends, I tend to celebrate for the entire month. I try to plan several fun things to do during for the month, both for myself and with friends. This last October, on the first weekend, I spent with my Women’s Spirituality…
Well, that was clumsy of me. Not only did I forget I had another posting scheduled, but of course, right after I get through chastising patronizing over-simplification of complex issues… I do it myself. How embarrassing. ;) A big thank-you to Velvetpage, whose critiques never fail to be both thought-provoking and courteous. With her permission,…
So in quick synopsis, as far as I can tell, people stick with harmful doctrines (such as religions which label you guilty simply on the basis of something completely out of your control, such as gender) because they truly believe the doctrine is correct, because they’re refusing to be pushed into something they’re not ready…
I have been asked why I put so much time and thought into my critique of WomanChrist. As one friend put it, at least the book suggests a more feminist christianity, so why do I not like it more? As I noted to the friend (in a very enjoyable and thoughtful discussion over lunch), I…
Having a unique name, such as mine is, has inadvertently led to a big personal surprise: people from my past are actually contacting me and asking to “friend” me on Facebook! I’m touched and pleased to do so, especially since my memories of high school (as a single example) were of me being an extremely…
I’m now on Facebook! I’m finding it a curiously fascinating window onto my own psyche. I’ve greatly enjoyed trying to find people from my past, but I’ve noticed some interesting reactions in myself as I do so. First, due to my family having moved so much, city to city, through almost all of my youth,…
Argh. It’s the little things that trip you up when you’re trying to focus on some huge project like a thesis. For example, I’ve realized that if I don’t nibble something every four hours or so, my blood sugar crashes. This would be no biggie, except my behavior also changes in such as way as…
Reflections To sum up: if you (generalized you) have not thought through why you believe something, it may well be difficult (although not impossible) for you to explain your reasoning — especially if the belief is not based on logic. Also, if you hold conclusions based only on emotion, you will most likely find it…
In effect, as a friend pointed out, they expected me to manage the conversation for them, so they didn’t have to take responsibility for their fear of confrontation — which was how they saw a good argument. Curiously, they often then stomped angrily off to yell at someone else about how they were right and…
or: “Collie, you’re just so intimidating!” (Originally posted January 2005) To Bob, Dave, & Lou, who aren’t intimidated… or so they say. ;) As those who know me are aware, I love a good argument. By “argument,” of course, I don’t mean screaming and verbal fisticuffs. I mean a thoughtful, mentally challenging discussion where two…