Published in Interfaith Now·Feb 1Member-onlyLove Beyond LawA Little Homily for a Dying Ego — “Give up the intellect for love and see In one brief moment all eternity; Break nature’s frame, be resolute and brave, Then rest at peace in Unity’s black cave.” —Attar, Conference of the Birds (trans. Afkham Darbandi, Dick Davis) Law delineates and exiles. Love draws in and embraces. I don’t…Spirituality2 min readSpirituality2 min read
Published in Interfaith Now·Jan 26Member-onlyWhy Zeus of All Gods?On the Particularity of Religious Ideas — Cultural Psychology describes the persistence of “sometimes unexpected” ideas, what modern people might term “religion.” The author cites research indicating that “minimally counterintuitive ideas,” which “violate our expectations but are not too unusual,” are more memorable (Heine, 93). However, while “religious” ideas (for lack of a better term) are more…Religion3 min readReligion3 min read
Oct 19, 2022Member-onlyMechanisms and Mischaracterizations of Natural SelectionNatural selection is the primary mechanism through which evolution and speciation occur. However, despite the centrality of natural selection in evolutionary thought, recent research indicates that this subject is often misunderstood, even within higher education (Gregory, 2009). Indeed, even prior to the landmark contributions of Charles Darwin, evolutionary thought has…Evolution3 min readEvolution3 min read
Oct 5, 2022Member-onlyAlchemy and CatastropheLamarck and Cuvier in Natural History — Numerous researchers have contributed to the natural sciences, especially in the past few centuries. However, far from infallible or exhaustive, these researchers’ discoveries have been incremental, and their theoretical frameworks have been tried through both peer review and social upheaval. In this vein, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Georges Cuvier — academics…Anthropology4 min readAnthropology4 min read
May 15, 2022Member-onlyPecos PuebloA Brief Overview — The most prominent feature of Pecos National Historical Park, east of Santa Fe, Pecos Pueblo lies in ruins, the remains of Mission Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula, a Spanish mission church, perched on a nearby ridge. The site not only attests to Pecos Pueblo’s former eminence and its…Archaeology3 min readArchaeology3 min read
Published in Interfaith Now·Apr 29, 2022Member-onlyUnder the Banner of Heaven, There Is No “Average Joe”Against the Definitive Mormon Experience — I’m usually quiet about individual issues or passing events in Mormon culture, but I want to share some thoughts I’ve had after observing discussions on Under the Banner of Heaven, Hulu’s miniseries adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s true-crime book of the same name. One side note: this is, of course, far…Mormon7 min readMormon7 min read
Apr 25, 2022Member-onlyThe Stress EpidemicExploring the Effects of Cortisol Abnormalities in Minors — In 2017, research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated a substantial decrease in life expectancy, linking this decline to deaths caused by opioid abuse, alcoholism, and suicide. Further research suggests that at the root of these “deaths of despair” is prolonged psychological and emotional strain or…Psychology6 min readPsychology6 min read
Apr 25, 2022Member-onlyProspero the PlaywrightMagic and Pageantry in Shakespeare’s Tempest — Prospero loses his dukedom, usurped by his brother Antonio, and is left to die at sea with his daughter Miranda. Shipwrecked upon an unknown island, Prospero learns magic from a collection of books and plans his revenge. While Prospero’s newfound power is coercive, allowing him to enslave the native Caliban…Shakespeare4 min readShakespeare4 min read
Apr 23, 2022Member-onlyPueblo Alto: A Great House Embedded in a Larger MysteryA brief glimpse at the Chaco System of the American Southwest — In northwestern New Mexico, within the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, lies Pueblo Alto, a great house built by the Ancestral Pueblo of the Chaco Culture. Spanish for “high town,” Pueblo Alto shares a mesa with Nuevo Alto, 0.6 miles from Pueblo Bonito, the largest known of the Chaco great…Archaeology4 min readArchaeology4 min read
Mar 28, 2022Member-onlyIs Depression in Our DNA?The Genetics of Mental Health and Illness — Introduction Depression is characterized by low energy, deteriorating interest in usual activities, and a general sense of negative affect or “sadness.” Depression can present as feelings of powerlessness, worthlessness, and hopelessness, and can adversely affect one’s relationships, professional life, and general well-being. …Psychology8 min readPsychology8 min read
