Why Americans See Fewer Miracles

There are primarily two explanations I've heard as to why we seem to see fewer miracles in the U.S. (and other developed nations) than in third world contexts:

1. People there are more credulous--they describe things as miracles which westerners would explain in a more scientific manner.

2. We have less faith.

Neither of these explanations has ever felt entirely satisfactory to me. In my experience, it's usually been western missionaries who make the comparison between the prevalence of miracles here vs. there--so a kind of culturally conditioned credulity wouldn't completely explain the difference. And as for faith: it's such a poorly defined term, it just doesn't seem very meaningful to use as an explanation without further elaboration.

But I was thinking the other day about the utility of religion (in general) as a sociological phenomenon. And as I asked myself whether "secular humanism" should be considered a religion, since it is a set of beliefs and values, I considered that there are no ceremonies or rituals associated with it. And I then thought to myself that religious rituals and ceremonies are primarily a way of putting people in touch with, and perhaps shaping, the unconscious mind. Chanting, singing, meditation, memorizing and repeating liturgical statements in unison with a group, symbolic actions, dancing, "speaking in tongues," etc. are all intended to help people enter something of a trance-like state in which the power of the unconscious can be accessed. 

And that's actually very important. As we learn very definitely from the (scientific) study of hypnotic states, some things that are impossible for the conscious mind are quite easy for the unconscious mind to accomplish.

But most Americans don't seem to be at all aware that trance or trance-like states are desirable or even possible. I wonder if people in other countries who experience more miracles may have cultural practices that help trance states to become a normal, everyday occurrence. If so, it would make sense that they'd be able more easily to access the unconscious mind in their prayers for healing.

Winter (poem and pictures)

Okay, so I started writing a poem about winter a while ago and only just finished it this evening. Here it is with some wintry photos from earlier this year. Sorry it's so unseasonal now.

Winter

I.

Why should I not welcome
the bitterness that bites
all that was lazily flowing
pinched and dry?
My heart has learned to wait
on flames that rise from cinders;
to pulse with, sense the latent sap.
I have seen many winters.


II.

Falling mercury understates the slowing down of
—molecules in stately waltz—
the things of earth, reduced, distilled:
the undisturbed reflection
 of their former selves yet more:
the thing of which the self is a reflection.
Be still and know.


III.

Imperious ice demands its due,
wind whipping subjects to submission.
No hint of summer’s warm inviting
stirs the hardened air itself.
Yet flame and frost as any pair
of lovers at their heart are one:
at winter’s core, a blaze must roar.

Lake Lanier, Georgia

Minneapolis

Near Duvall, WA

Near Duvall, WA

Lake Lanier, Georgia

Elementary school garden, Duvall, WA

Rest In Peace, Philip Seymour Hoffman

When Brandon told me last night, I was ... well ... shocked. I guess you could say "of course," but I've never been so affected by the death of a celebrity. It's not just that I'm sad I won't get to see him in more movies (which is very sad, indeed). Before yesterday, if his name had come up, I would have said that he was a phenomenal actor, which is true. But I didn't realize until I heard he'd died what a unique and powerful presence he had. His performances spoke so directly to the heart. (Being habitually cynical/suspicious about emotional ways of "knowing," I doubt myself even as I write this, but I tell you, I don't think I would be so grieved if Hoffman hadn't communicated something especially "real" through his movies--more so even than other great practitioners of his craft.)

Rest in peace, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Your loss is felt.

World's Largest Entertainment McDonald's

We finally made our pilgrimage to the World's Largest Entertainment McDonald's (located in Orlando). It was ... well .. let me show you ...

As I understand it, an "entertainment McDonald's" is a McDonald's that contains an arcade. And the World's Largest Entertainment McDonald's also has a "gourmet bistro" with special menu items not available at a normal McDonald's.

While you wait in line to order, you can look into these glass cases that display plastic incarnations of the novel offerings.

(The "play food" looked even more unappetizing in real life than in these photos.)

After ordering, we waited about 20 mins to pick up our food. Luckily, the ordinary large fries we ordered was given to us immediately, so we didn't starve. But the fries were old and stale. The only sense in which I can say it was worth the wait for the unusual food items is that we then knew what the food was like (and no longer had any reason to order there again.)

The Reuben looked better than it tasted.

Brandon got some kind of patty melt. It was also kind of gross.

We probably should have tried the pizza. It looked okay.

Brandon was surprised I knew the name of this old mascot: Mac Tonight.
(Sadly, he doesn't actually make music or anything--just a statue.)

The second floor of the building is an arcade.

It has some interesting decorations.

I was tempted buy the Fry Kids wall clock in the gift shop, but I somehow managed to resist.

To fully appreciate the place, I think you'll have to witness it in person.

Every Choice Is Evil, But We're Making Progress!

A little while ago I was listening as someone articulated the common notion that no one will know what our present society’s major moral blind spots are until many generations in the future, when we’ve all died off and can be judged safely, from a distance. It’s the conventional wisdom, but I don’t quite buy it. Not that there isn’t some truth in it: I agree that oftentimes we humans are blinded by self-interest or simply act in ignorance.

But my own opinion is that pretty much any way of structuring a society and deciding on public policy involves moral compromise. Because upholding one moral principle will so often mean violating another. And when we look back on previous societies and declare how “evil” they were (for approving of slavery, misogyny, xenophobia, etc.), we’re really being extremely arrogant, because we pretend it didn’t matter that there were, in fact, real advantages to the whole society in having things set up that way. Is it really better for everyone to be equal in the eyes of the law? Well, it depends on your circumstances. And I’m not saying it depends on whether you’re one of the people who gets treated better than everyone else—I’m saying that inequality can enhance the chances of your civilization’s survival. Every society gives special treatment to certain classes of individuals.

Actually, I guess this is an example of why it’s sad that anthropology hasn’t really influenced mainstream thinking about ethics very much. Even though postmoderns supposedly adhere to some kind of “moral relativism,” in my experience it typically doesn’t go any further than a vague belief that “You shouldn’t judge people who are different from you”—which is accompanied by a tendency no less powerful than in any previous generation to judge and condemn all sorts of people.

My opinion is that true wisdom is not throwing up our hands in despair over our limited abilities to discern the great moral issues of our time (just as previous generations have failed before us, etc.) but true wisdom is to learn from the past (and different cultures), not as mistakes, but as alternate evolutionary paths whose benefits we should consider with as much care as we consider their disadvantages—because it’s not unlikely our current system neglects the values served by the cultural norms we find objectionable.

I think it would be best if people stopped feeling superior to the racist white Americans of the 18th century who approved of slavery—not because we probably would have gone along with it, too, if we had lived back then—but because it was not as easy a moral decision as we make it out to be. The economic and political implications of ending slavery were complex and unknown. In fact, we can see even better today that abolition would not/did not fix the problem of black poverty and oppression.

And the thing is, it is not difficult to name many similar situations in our society today where we know that something we’re doing is evil, but we’re afraid of what the unintended consequences of changing things might be. We Americans approve tacitly or by our economic choices things like sweatshops overseas and a federal minimum wage that is far below a living wage (present-day slavery)—not to mention the degradation of the environment, pornographic advertising, a conspiracy of conceited mediocrity, the tyrannical rule of corporate entities, irresponsible sexual decisions, etc.

So, anyway, I think that just as we can make progress as individuals by examining ourselves with grace and love instead of hatred and fear, such a thing can be done at the societal level, as well. And you may note: I used the word “progress” very intentionally. Because while I do not think we are any more “moral” than previous generations, I do think we have gained greater knowledge and self-awareness, which can help us to make better moral choices. We have no moral superiority over past generations, but we do have a potential moral advantage. So let’s not excuse ourselves from the only-sort-of-difficult task of figuring out what our society’s major blind spots are and do what we can to increase our knowledge, decrease misinformation, let go of prejudices, open our minds to new possibilities, actually learn from people different from ourselves and use our moral advantages wisely!

And a pet dragon and rocket powered roller skates and a moat and a secret passageway for my bedroom ...

A few weeks ago I was really tickled by this collection of "insane" kids' wish lists--including requests for "fake pills," "a dozen swords," and "1,000,000 pieces of shrimp."

And I thought: Man! What a pity that grown-ups' wish lists get so boring--I mean, it's all, like, electronics and clothing and food stuffs--not that those things can't be exciting--but once you're an adult, if you were to stop thinking about what's "realistic," and let your imagination run wild--first of all, Oh! The things you could come up with!--and then second (more importantly), you have so many more resources for making your dreams come true than when you were a child.

I've recently been reading a book called The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss. Now, I don't want to give the impression I fully endorse the ideas in the book because, as Brandon pointed out upon reading the jacket cover, the author is basically explaining how you can become one of those lazy fat cats sitting pretty on the backs of the poor. The notion of not just failing to condemn, but even joining the new leisure class struck Brandon immediately as morally abhorrent. I wasn't quite so quick to judge, but being somewhat partial to Kantian ethics, it does bother me that if everyone were to apply Mr. Ferris's methods, the whole system would crumble.

That being said ... I completely agree with Mr. Ferriss that the 40 hr work week is too long and, at least partly because of that, people waste a lot of time while "on the clock." It's a lesson that becomes very clear contrasting the public school system with the homeschool experience. It is possible to accomplish much more learning in just a few hours at home than in a whole day spent at school (with homework added on to be completed in "off hours"). I could continue, but this is not the point I want to make right now.

The really valuable takeaway from the book for me is the reminder that you don't have to wait until retirement to pursue your dreams. In fact, you shouldn't. You should figure out right now what you really want to do with your life, make a plan to get it done, and start executing that plan immediately.

So, here's my own preliminary "insane" list of wishes:

- to write a great work of literature (some novels?)

- to do lots of paintings that I really like (better than the ones I've done so far)

- to get paid for giving workshops on topics of interest to me

- to get paid for writing curricula that help people learn valuable stuff
- to have multiple friends whom I can really trust, who like me, and who enrich my life with their strangeness

- to live in a home that is kept tidy and is full of happy-making art

- to eat well and exercise sufficiently to feel as good as possible

- to appreciate each day, knowing that I am fulfilling my longtime dream: to see the face of God and live
- and not just that, but also to appreciate what hadn't occurred to me until recently as a corollary to the previous that the face of God is being seen in me and my creative endeavors
- to raise children who know that they are loved and valuable, and who have gifts beyond what I can imagine
- also one of those Tibetan singing bowl thingies
- and a really fancy kazoo (gold plated?)
- and a collection of the best medieval scholars' hats recreated for modern times
- and more accessories for my camera (macro lens, telephoto lens, super deluxe flash)
- and a hooded cape with awesome embroidery (more than one?)
- and a solar powered motorbike
- and my own private study - that's really, really private - with a heavy, soundproof door and a huge dead bolt - or, better yet, a big wooden bar across the door - and with no windows - and stuffed book cases lining the walls completely
- and a giant monitor lizard (which is about the closest to a pet dragon anyone is going to get until genetic engineering advances a lot more)

Okay, so now, while I get to work on a plan to make my dreams come true ... what about your "insane" wish list? (-:

[Sadly, of all those things, I think the least likely ever to be fulfilled are the ones about the house being tidy, and eating well and exercising ... lol ... totally unrealistic ... ]

Thinking Of Our Veterans Today With Admiration, Gratitude, Concern ... And Resolve

I haven't done much to observe this Veterans' Day. I've thought with gratitude and admiration of people who've offered their lives in military service.

But (without considering the appropriateness beforehand), I also watched The Bridge On The River Kwai today--and yesterday, Ender's Game.

Bridge On The River Kwai is a depressing fable about the madness and futility of war. And Ender's Game--well, the movie was a poor adaptation of the book, unnecessarily introducing tired old tropes that obscured the philosophical themes--but the book, anyway, (which I hurriedly read the day before yesterday) raises the question: to what extent do we want to become violently brutal in order to protect ourselves (and our loved ones) from violent brutality?

Ender's Game (the book) poignantly illustrates the weight of--what shall we call it? Regret? Responsibility? The heaviness and terror felt by someone who never wanted to become ruthlessly violent, and yet, when faced with murderous intent, chose to respond in kind.

I have a great deal of respect for soldiers; for their sacrifice, which I consider genuinely noble. But I also feel concerned for soldiers, since, in combat, they must develop a side of themselves which most human beings generally strive to suppress. (And of course, much happens in combat that is severely emotionally traumatic for various reasons--in addition to the physical harm suffered.)

I don't know what else to say. Thank you, veterans, for your service, and I'm sorry it was necessary (or, worse, asked for even though not necessary). So today I resolve once again to do what I can to work for peace so that the horror of war can be avoided as much as possible in future. I will try to become the kind of person who forgives, who is gracious when others are mean and conciliatory when others are hostile. I will try to set aside my pride when I disagree with someone, listen with an open mind, and make a way for peace where there is no way.

I do believe that the best hope of changing the world is to change oneself, especially since personal transformation tends to be at least somewhat contagious. So ... I'll try to be a peacemaker in my relationships to honor those that have bought peace at a very dear price.