Category: Philosophy
Life is Hard Here — Dispatch from Palestine
The heavy rain doused the aluminum-roofed shack. Rivulets carved paths through the thick mud around the house. But inside, the house was cozy, comfortable. Thick carpets and bouncy velvet couches make... Read More
Walt Disney’s Theology of Hope, pt. 3
See Part I and Part II. What kind of a man spends his time locked away drawing cartoon mice and convinces visual artists, musicians, innovators, and designers to devote themselves to his cause? As I s... Read More
Walt Disney’s Theology of Hope, pt. 1
He had an intensely religious youth. He’d been brought up in a strictly regimented church atmosphere. His father was a deacon at one time. [Knowing this] I can understand why he had such a free atti... Read More
Doing Interfaith Better: A Reflection on the Harvard “Black Mass” and Its Aftermath
Interfaith work means a great deal to me, as it does to many folks. Engaging in interfaith work, to me, means being inspired by my religious tradition to work with others of different belief/nonbelief... Read More
Guest Post: Am I My Brother’s Keeper?
Cain kills Abel, and God asks Cain, “Where is your brother, Abel?” Cain responds, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The retort serves not only as a refutation of any implied responsibility for the... Read More
“You Ain’t Never Had a Friend Like Me”: On Robin Williams, Suicide, Ultimate Concern, and Actual Hope for the Rest of Us, Part I
*TRIGGER WARNINGS* suicide, self-harm, depression Over this past month, prompted by Ramadan, I’ve been thinking about what it means to be a good person in the world. It’s way harder than... Read More
Born on the 9th of Av: Misery and Messianism
From Monday night until Tuesday night, Jews around the world will observe a day which is, incontrovertibly, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar. We will fast for the 25 hours from sunset to sunset,... Read More
Medicine, Minds and the Philosophy of Time
A few months ago, I wrote a piece on imagining the social futures of patients, in an effort to think about what it takes to keep people healthy over time. My main point was to expose the “past bias... Read More