Category Archives: Cultural Observations

News Zines Go Tabloid

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Jim Spiegel

Just when you thought our tabloid news culture couldn’t get any worse . . . it gets worse.  Apparently, Time and Newsweek are battling for the journalistic award for Sensationally Bad Taste.  The cover of the latest issue of Time … Continue reading →

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Sex Bounty on Tim Tebow

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Jim Spiegel

Have you heard about the sex bounty on Tim Tebow?  The website AshleyMadison.com, which specializes in arranging extramarital affairs, has made a one million dollar offer to anyone who can give proof they have had sex with the NFL quarterback.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Observations, News, Sports | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Hodgepodge

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Jim Spiegel

1. An Atheist Goes to Church Since the passing of Christopher Hitchens, my favorite living atheist is probably Michael Ruse, philosopher of biology at Florida State University.  For a taste of Ruse’s interesting perspective, check out his recent Chronicle of … Continue reading →

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Greater Expectations

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Amy Spiegel

If you have ever spent more than five minutes with me, you probably know that I think my parents are awesome. Even if they weren’t my parents, I am sure I would hold them in great esteem for the wise … Continue reading →

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Peeved Driving

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Jim Spiegel

Here’s a question I’ve pondered for a long time:  Why is it so much easier to get angry at other people while driving than when doing just about anything else?  Perhaps that’s not true for you.  But it is for … Continue reading →

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Respecting the Difficulty of Parenting

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Jim Spiegel

Lately, Amy and I have been pondering the difficulty of parenting, as well as the way the difficulty is often regarded.  It is interesting to hear some people’s comments about those who express their struggles in raising numerous children.  Often, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Observations, Family | Tagged | 1 Comment

If It Hadn’t Been for Cotton-Eyed Joe

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Amy Spiegel

While I was enjoying Thanksgiving break at my folks, my dad pointed out an article in the local paper about a Christian country music artist and his idea for making church more accessible to country music fans. Why not have … Continue reading →

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Hodgepodge

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Jim Spiegel

1. Steve Jobs’ Last Words Apparently, Steve Jobs’ final utterance before his death last month was “Oh wow.”  How ironic (or appropriate?) that these were the last words of a man whose innovations in computer technology prompted millions of people … Continue reading →

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Where Muslims are Getting it Right

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Amy Spiegel

The conspicuous appearance of red and yellow amongst the green leaves along the highway has forced me to admit that summer is no more. I can deny it all I like but the months of late night movie watching, sleeveless … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Cultural Observations | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Oxford Study on Religious Belief

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Jim Spiegel

A three-year long Oxford University research project has recently concluded that religious belief “comes naturally, even instinctively.”  The study, led by Oxford University Professor Roger Trigg, was a transcultural mega-project that actually incorporated data from forty different studies around the … Continue reading →

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