Evolutionary Religion

Here is a thoughtful review of what sounds like an interesting book, Evolutionary Religion, by J. L. Schellenberg. An excerpt from the review:

I think what Schellenberg is really saying is that religious believers should be much less dogmatic, especially about very detailed and obscure and controversial beliefs. They should be much more open to new possibilities of relating to an ultimately valuable transcendent reality. And they should not insist on precise ancient formulations and rules, but should be ready to re-think what makes for human well-being and human maturity. All this is well said, and probably needs saying.

“Want fries with that degree?”

All philosopher majors know the drill – you tell someone your major and immediately field “what are you going to do with that?” questions.  Well, tonight I encountered that bias in an unexpected place.  I was playing the game of Life with my daughters.  We were using a very old board, an original one actually, that was handed down from my mother-in-law.  If you win the game, you retire to millionaire’s estate.  If you lose.  Well, see how the board describes the losing bankruptcy option.  (By the way, my daughter beat me badly, despite her choosing not to go to college.  And many laughs were had at my expense by the 7 and 5 year olds at my fate.  Overall, a pretty serious fail if the game of Life was to be a vehicle for me teaching them my educational values.)

game of life