Not too long ago I found myself in a discussion with a Puerto Rican pastor about prayer. I dare say that most Christians believe that prayer changes our circumstances, but I say that prayer is designed to change our perceptions.Show more ›
On the Age of the Cosmos
A fundamental problem in articulating the age of the universe is that time has not always existed. Whether one subscribes to the big bang or to creationism, there is evidence that time was not constant throughout the universe’s existence.Show more ›
Circumcision Fiction
For many decades of the twentieth century, American physicians both recommended and presumed consent for routine infant circumcision. In 2009 the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy position to state that circumcision was strictly a cultural and/or religious consideration with no medical consideration (pdf). In 2012 the American Acadrmy of Pediatrics amended its position to offer two justifications for circumcision—reduced risk of UTIs in infancy and reduced risk of STIs in adulthood (pdf). However, the AAP qualified the amended policy that its data only established a statistical benefit greater than the statistical risk. Infant circumcision was therefore categorized as an acceptable medical procedure only; the data did not establish infant circumcision as a necessary medical procedure.Show more ›
There Is No Single Divinely-Appointed Marriage Partner
For quite some time it has been a popular Charismatic Christian belief that God creates one perk perfect mate for each person. I have long believed that this is not true but I now believe it could not be true for additional reasons.Show more ›
Pro-Choice on Abortion, but What About Circumcision?
To be clear, this post is not about abortion but rather a sociocultural contradiction and hypocrisy revealed by the political lens of abortion. A few weeks ago I was struck by the irony that those who advocate “pro-choice” regarding women’s bodies fail to extend that philosophy to men’s bodies.Show more ›
Hey Google….DBAA
Some time ago I created a Tasker profile called DBAA (Don’t Be An Asshole). Basically, this profile watched for certain keywords in wireless network names and then put the phone on vibrate based on the assumption that ringing in those locations would be undesirable (specifically, it looks for church, mosque, synagogue, shrine, theater, cinema, movie, patron, library, academy, school, elementary, middle, high, auditorium, lecture, recital, and hall). It isn’t perfect; some places might not have wifi or the wifi name might not contain one of the hotwords. Still, if it helps anywhere, it’s a benefit. But why, I wonder, hasn’t Google implemented this sort of functionality tied to Android’s location awareness? That would be easy enough and much more reliable. Of course, nothing should be forced upon the user so, like Do Not Disturb mode, a user should have the option to enable or disable. Better still, why not prompt the user to enable silent mode upon arriving at such a location?
The Fundamental Flaw in HB2
As do countless citizens and corporations, I fundamentally disagreed with North Carolina’s 2016 legislation now known commonly as HB2. It was as much hateful as it was an egregious violation of federal law. I have pointed out in other posts that treating all females as frail victims incapable of defending themselves or speaking for themselves is supremely misogynistic just as it is supremely misandrist to presume all males to be menacing predators. In fact, I argue that the same mental processes which make a particular person (man or woman) a predator are the very same mental processes that make a comparable person a hero. You see, while a predator perceives a given set of circumstances as a potential victim to be exploited, a hero perceives those exact same circumstances as a potential victim in need of defense. And in this the old cartoons got it right! The hero and the villain wear identical hats and the color merely reflected the content of their character. Apart from these extremes, though, most males just go about their own business and their presence is neither good nor evil.Show more ›
What Is Gender Nonconformity?
As noted in another post, sex and gender are not the same thing. Sex is typically seen as a binary trait that flows from reproductive function whether that be regarded as genital, chromosomal, gonadal, hormonal, or structural. There are, of course, biologically intersex persons born with karyotype disorders, androgen insensitivity disorders, and/or genital dysgenesis disorders. According to the U.N. World Health Organization, as much as 1% to 2% of persons are born intersex worldwide. Gender, however, is more complex and is not a monolithic construct.Show more ›
Internet Coverage of Skirted Men
Instances of men wearing skirts in non-traditional regions is nothing new, but the world is finally noticing the inevitable, acknowledging the legitimacy and resolving the disconnect. Show more ›
A Guy’s Guide to Getting Skirted (because skirts are for men too)
Words do not adequately describe a skirted man’s enhanced comfort in the sweltering summer months. While comfort is an enormous justification for donning a work-appropriate skirt, comfort is neither the sole benefit nor the sole justification, as I have pointed out in “Why I Wear Skirts” and other posts about men and skirts. Skirts need not be frilly, froufrou, or feminine, and skirts can indeed be very masculine if a person first understands the basic design characteristics and uses this knowledge to make some sensible selections.Show more ›
Skepticism
Misandry – Hatred or Disfavor of Males
People probably know of “misogyny,” but what about “misandry”? This Psychology Today article explains.