Content (Page 63)
What Believers and Atheists Can Learn From Each Other (co-written with Sam McNerney)
It’s inherently challenging for believers and atheists to have productive conversations. But one bright person interested in broadening the conversation is Sam McNerney, a science writer who focuses on cognitive science and an atheist interested in religion from a psychological point of view. So as two people with different religious outlooks we wondered: what can we learn from each other?
Is Religion Analytical or Intuitive?
why might critical thinking lessen religious belief? Why might intuitive thinking strengthen it? And what are the implications for the religious community?
Why Bernie Madoff Didn’t Lurk in Dark Alleys
Different forms of stealing have different “feels” to them. Physically taking money from another person feels more violent, more immediate, and less justifiable of an action. “Cooking the books,” however, can easily feel explainable by the perpetrator.
The Science of Compassion — A Conversation with Professor David DeSteno
There often is tension between our religious beliefs and our religious identities — between our religious teachings that tell us to be compassionate to all people, and the way religious groups can create an “us” and “them” mentality. But “who we are” is very much “what we do.”
What is Most Surprising About the Religion and Science Discussion?
While conversations about truth and morality often pit science and religion in opposition to each other, when we talk about meaning and values, science and religion can come together in productive ways.
How Should We Talk About Religion And Science?
As someone who loves both religion and science, I often struggle with how they interact. Are they in opposition to each other? Do they need to be reconciled? What happens when new scientific knowledge challenges the tenets of my faith?
How Much Do We Value Our Values?
Very often, when we talk about values, we want to talk about simple right and wrong — we should be good stewards of the earth, or remember that we have a responsibility to help those in need, or ensure that every human being has certain rights. But while some values are about simple right and wrong, in truth, the vast majority are actually about costs and benefits.
Give Your Brain a Rest
While hard work is the way ideas get actualized, rest is an effective way for us to evaluate our ideas.
Getting our B’nei Mitzvah to Understand (and Love) Torah Study
Too often, preparing students to become bar or bat mitzvah feels like “studying for the test.” And as anyone who has ever “studied for the test” knows, the day after the test, all the information goes in one ear and out the other. Instead, becoming bar or bat mitzvah should truly be about making a transition — namely, from being a child in the Jewish community to becoming an adult. And so as our 13-year-olds grow and develop, and as we celebrate their entrance into the Jewish community, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to teach them skills for life-long learning.
Does Religion Make Your Brain Happy? An Interview with Science Writer David DiSalvo
Many of the things that make our brains happy are now more harmful than helpful. And some people place religion in that category, as well. Religion is like fatty foods, they claim — something we should outgrow and move beyond. But I think the better question is, what aspects of religion should we try to outgrow?
The Beauty in Science and the Beauty in Judaism
Curiosity and awe are two of the driving forces behind both science and Judaism. They are what lead us to see their inherent beauty.
Religion Can’t Be an End Unto Itself
The question isn’t “how Jewish are we?” or “how religious are we?” The real question is, “How can Judaism help us to become better people and to create a better world?”