Category: News

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Conference on Positive Psychology

By Jim Spiegel

In the field of psychology there has traditionally been an emphasis on psychological disorders—the various ways in which people malfunction in regards to their patterns of thought and behavior.  That is, you might say that the standard approach in the field has been negative.  A recent movement in the field, led by such scholars as Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson, aims to correct this by focusing on healthy or well-ordered human traits and behavioral patterns.  This alternative (or supplementary) approach has been dubbed positive psychology.

Although very influential, not much work has been done in Christian psychological circles to assess this approach.  This past weekend I was privileged to speak at a conference of the Society for Christian Psychology devoted to precisely this.  The theme was “Towards a Christian Positive Psychology,” and I was among several invited speakers who addressed themes related to the subject.  Each of our papers can be accessed here.

The Society for Christian Psychology was founded in 2003 by Eric L. Johnson, who is still the society’s director.  The group is committed to the idea that work in psychology—whether scholarly or clinical—should be practiced from a Christian perspective.  This is not mere integration of faith and psychology, but rather an approach that aims for a more complete and thorough intertwining of Christian worldview with psychological theory and practice.  Some good resources on the distinctives of this approach are Psychology and Christianity: Five Views and Eric Johnson’s Foundations for Soul Care (IVP, 2007).

In developing the model of Christian psychology, Dr. Johnson regularly invites Christian philosophers to contribute to the society’s publications and conferences, such as the one held last weekend.   This is because philosophers are uniquely equipped to address issues related to human

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Robert Roberts, Kevin Timpe, and Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung

consciousness, behavior, and ethics the understanding of which are crucial to psychological inquiry and counseling.  Another benefit is that there has been a renaissance in Christian philosophy during the last generation that is essentially what leaders of the SCP envision for the field of psychology.  So Christian philosophers are able to helpfully model this approach.

Among the Christian philosophers participating at the meeting (pictured at left) were Robert C. Roberts (Baylor University), Kevin Timpe (Northwest Nazarene University), Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung (Calvin College), and myself.  Roberts, a leading virtue ethicist and the author of numerous highly acclaimed works on the subject, including Emotions: An Essay in Aid of Moral Psychology, gave a paper on the virtue of temperance.  Timpe, author of Free Will: Sourcehood and its Alternatives, discussed freedom and moral character.  Konyndyk DeYoung, author of Glittering Vices, gave a presentation on the vice of sloth.  And my paper was on the virtue of open-mindedness.  All of our presentations were well-received by those in attendance and prompted vigorous discussion.

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Hodgepodge

By Jim Spiegel

1. Facebook Enemies – Have a lot of friends on Facebook?  Would you like to establish a few enemies as well?  You’re not alone.  Take a look at this recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

2. About Face – Speaking of Facebook, check out this excellent Touchstone article by my friend, and CIU professor, Steve Baarendse, who offers a (baker’s) dozen reasons why he is not on Facebook.  Interesting stuff, which will prompt some healthy critical reflections on all of your on-line activity, whether or not you’re part of Facebook nation.

3. Billy Corgan on Dissent – I never was a big Smashing Pumpkins fan (though I do own Siamese Dream), but I sure found myself cheering as I watched this fascinating InfoWars interview with the band’s front man.  If more people thought like this, we could really have some productive public discourse in this country.

4. Zombie Town Detroit! – Here’s a wild and crazy (and potentially profitable) idea to bring some renewal to Detroit.  Critics think the proposal for a Zombie theme park is exploitative and insensitive.  Judge for yourself.

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News Zines Go Tabloid

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 magazine features a woman nursing her 3-year-old son (corresponding to the cover story pertaining to “attachment parenting,” which, to me, is as absurd as the cover photo is disturbing.)  Not to be outdone, Newsweek countered with a cover story on Obama as “The First Gay President.”

When Newsweek editor-in-chief Tina Brown learned about the controversial Time cover, she tellingly declared, “Let the games begin.”  Judging by the poor quality of their journalism over the past decade or so, I’d say Time and Newsweek have both been playing games.  At least now it’s official.

Not only are these recent moves signs that these once honorable news organizations have gone the way of the celebrity tabloid, they are symptomatic of their desperation in the Internet age (and a poor economy).  But perhaps more significantly, it is dramatic evidence of how irrational our culture is becoming.  The expectation, of course, is that these controversial covers will drive up sales.  And this is an even sadder commentary on the rest of us.

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Sex Bounty on Tim Tebow

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.  This is wrong, as they say, at so many levels.  Here are a few thoughts.

  1. The very idea of a website devoted to arranging adulterous relationships is a frightening commentary not only on the moral bankruptcy of those who run the site but also on our society.  The website boasts nearly 14 million “anonymous members.” But then again, the site also declares that they don’t encourage anyone to have an affair.  Uh huh.  I suppose we shouldn’t expect that such folks would care about truth either.
  2. The website ignores how their service is impacting the children of those whom they are tempting into adultery.  If what they do for the adults involved is evil, what they are doing to “the least of these” is even worse.
  3. And then there is the way this will impact Tim Tebow.  Here is guy who does nothing but good for his community, constantly reaching out to people in need (especially through the Tim Tebow Foundation).  Yet the AshleyMadison.com folks want to destroy him.  Not only is this a striking case of darkness hating the light, it’s blatant hypocrisy.  These are people who justify their sexual ethic (or lack thereof) in the name of freedom.  Well, what about Tim Tebow’s freedom to abstain?  They clearly don’t care about interfering with that.
  4. Finally, a few psalmist prayers come to mind.  I suppose Tebow is now praying something like this:  “The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path” (Ps. 140:5).  But he would also be warranted in praying this about his tempters: “May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap” (Ps. 69:22).  And may we all pray for Tim Tebow.
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Hodgepodge

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 Higher Education piece on attending church this past Christmas.

2. Lawsuit Abuse Website

Ridiculously frivolous lawsuits have now become so commonplace that there is a website devoted to them.  Its called Faces of Lawsuit Abuse.  Here you can learn about various bizarre cases (including a confessed killer suing his victim and a 400 lb. prison inmate suing because his clothes don’t fit) as well as the devastating effects of our society’s hyper-litigiousness.

3. Jonathan Cahn on 9/11

Jonathan Cahn is a messianic rabbi at the Beth Israel Worship Center in Wayne, New Jersey and president of Hope of the World ministries.  His teachings are broadcast daily around the world, but until recently I had never heard this remarkable sermon on 9/11.  Judge for yourself whether the connections he traces between Isaiah 9 and the events on that day and its aftermath are mere coincidence or fulfillment of prophecy.

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Remembering Dr. Wynn Kenyon (1948-2012)

By Jim Spiegel

This past weekend I attended the funeral of my beloved professor and mentor, Wynn Kenyon, who taught Philosophy at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi for three decades.  It was Kenyon who taught me how to think critically and introduced me to the notion of Christian worldview.  It was Kenyon who expanded my mind theologically, enabling me to understand the sovereignty of God in all situations.  And, most importantly, it was Kenyon who best modeled for me how to live with Christian integrity, demonstrating virtue in all domains of life, beginning with his own family.

When I came to Belhaven in the early 80s, I had no idea what subject to major in, let alone what career to pursue.  So I consulted my youth leader for advice, and he told me that someday I would meet someone and think, “I want to be just like that person.”  This, he said, would be the signal for me as to what career I should pursue.  At the time, I thought this was lame counsel but, sure enough, within a few years (and after about half a dozen of Kenyon’s Philosophy classes) it dawned on me that Wynn Kenyon was that person.  So I set my sights on graduate school and never looked back.  Since arriving at Taylor University in the early 90s, I have essentially tried to be a version of Wynn Kenyon for our community, though I know I will always fall short.

Kenyon was as unique an individual as I’ve ever known.  He was a sturdy figure, both physically and intellectually.  In terms of philosophical aptitude, he possessed a rare combination of fine analytical skills and “big picture” understanding.  One moment he would be explaining some subtle nuance on the doctrine of essences, and the next moment he would show you the implications of that point for the entire history of modern philosophy and theology.  But despite his intellectual prowess, Kenyon was remarkably humble and even boyishly playful.  He was a practical jokester and seemed to appreciate being the butt of jokes as much as playing jokes on others.  And when something amused him, he would burst forth with his signature monosyllabic laugh—Ha!  And when he found something especially funny, he would not repeat the laugh but simply increased the volume—HA!!!  Even in a crowded cafeteria, everyone would know when Kenyon was really humored by something, as his guffaw would resound, momentarily drowning out all other sounds, and bringing smiles to faces all over the room.

Kenyon was also absent-minded and notoriously unconcerned with fashion.  Known for his unkempt hair and disheveled dress, it was understood that he was too busy solving metaphysical riddles to be bothered with such mundane details.  But he was never too preoccupied to help others, even when this inconvenienced him.  For example, one day after church I inadvertently left my Bible on the roof of my car.  When I drove off, the Bible flew off the roof and split into several pieces as my girlfriend and I headed down Jackson’s busy Northside Drive.  Suddenly I remembered my Bible and quickly turned around to retrieve it.  As we headed back up the street, my girlfriend said, “Look, some kind soul is picking up your Bible in the middle of all that traffic.”  Then in one astonished voice we cried out, “Its Dr. Kenyon!”  There he was, making a spectacle of himself, not to mention risking his personal welfare, gathering all of the sections of my NIV Bible that had been strewn across the street.  I drove up, and he handed it to me with a wry grin, saying something like “Here, you might want to keep this inside your car next time.”

This anecdote typified Kenyon’s good humor and relentless servant spirit.  Wynn Kenyon’s entire life was devoted to humble service, in fact.  And I am one of thousands whose life he powerfully impacted.  Back in the 18th century, Sir Richard Steele said of Bishop George Berkeley, “Till I knew you, I thought it the privilege of angels only to be very knowing and very innocent.”  If ever there was a man of our time about whom the same could be said, it was Dr. Wynn Kenyon.  He will be missed, but the impact of his life and ministry will endure.

For more reflections on the life and adventures of Wynn Kenyon, see this Facebook Page dedicated to his memory.

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Thislethwaite, Theology, and the Norway Massacre

By Jim Spiegel

This Washington Post piece by Susan Brooks Thislethwaite has created quite stir.  Take a look, and you’ll see why.  For starters, she follows the NY Times and others in referring to the Norway mass assassin, Anders Behring Breivik, as a Christian.  Then she goes on to challenge readers to consider how Christianity may inspire violence.  Interestingly, in her article she vacillates between asserting that the supposed violence-inspiring elements in Christianity are mere theological “interpretations” of our religion, on the one hand, and actual “elements of Christianity” on the other.  If she intends to claim the latter, she gives us no evidence whatsoever to support her claim.  If she intends only to suggest the former, then her remarks are horribly misleading.  In any case, Thislethwaite’s article is inflammatory and only manages to create confusion.

Thislethwaite apparently rejects the distinction between genuine Christians and those who merely claim to be Christians.  We recognize this distinction in every other context, so why not here?  Being a Christian is not simply a matter of affirming certain propositions, as is clear from many biblical passages (e.g., Mt. 25:31-46; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; and Gal. 5:19-21).  Even if Anders Breivik did affirm the deity and resurrection of Jesus (which, by the way, he denies), this does not by itself make him any more Christian than the devil himself (who presumably would affirm these truths).

It is telling that Thislethwaite doesn’t bother to identify any biblical passages that might reasonably be construed to inspire violence, much less mass murder.  Perhaps she has in mind certain Old Testament passages where God commanded the killing of the Canaanites.  But these are not uniquely Christian texts.  Jews and Muslims also regard these as scripture.  It is the New Testament that is uniquely Christian, so it is here that we must look for “Christian elements” that might inspire violence.  And what do we find in the New Testament?  A consistent ethic of non-violence.  The ethic of “turn the other cheek” non-resistance.  The ethic of submitting to political authorities.  And, when one must disobey the governing authorities, an ethic of peaceful disobedience.  In short, we find an ethic of non-violence that has inspired numerous pacifist theological traditions.  Yet Thislethwaite insinuates that there is something about Christianity that could justify violence?  Breathtaking.

Okay, so perhaps what Thislethwaite really wants to suggest is that some madmen, most recently Anders Breivik, have warped or twisted Christian ideas to their own use in attempting to justify their violence.  Well, of course this is true—and it is so obvious it is hardly worth stating.  But if this is all she wants to say, then why does she say that it is Christianity that becomes lethal, that Christianity may be complicit in mass violence?  Perhaps Thislethwaite just wants to have it both ways—to implicate Christian theology itself in violence without having to do the biblical or theological analysis necessary to demonstrate this (which, of course, is an impossible task, as I just noted—the New Testament nowhere endorses violence but only peaceful responses, whether in resistance or non-resistance).

Or, more cynically, perhaps Thislethwaite’s only real aim in this piece is political.  Maybe she just wants to create a negative association with conservative Christianity by suggesting that Breivik is a “right wing” Christian extremist.  This would certainly help to demonize the political views of conservative Christians—views that, as a “left wing” political thinker, Thislethwaite personally despises.

In the end, I’m not sure what Thislethwaite’s aims or real claims are in this piece.  What I am sure of is that her article is confused, inflammatory, and irresponsible.

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Observations on the Casey Anthony Case—Part 2

By Amy Spiegel

Here are my responses to Jim’s three points in the previous post:

1. A Point About Logic — While I’m not sure I understand Jim’s first point, here’s my point of logic: Though I am willing to concede that it is unclear what the exact circumstances of Caylee Anthony’s death were, she is still dead and her mom still played some role in either her death or the coverup that followed. She was not the one to report it to the police and was out partying just days after the supposed accident. That amounts at minimum to child neglect. I can understand jurors who say the state didn’t prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt but can’t get how some of them seem to be saying they think she is completely innocent.

2. Racism and Classism — I don’t know why some abduction stories grab the national attention and others do not, but I am not as convinced of it being based on racism. This is one of those stories where all the factors come together like a perfect storm to create the “perfect,” however tragic, story. Yes, the little girl being super cute and the mom being young and pretty play into that but there are other factors that build on one another. First, the child went missing, then there was the crazy story about a runaway nanny, the grandfather attempted suicide, the mother was suspected and then charged, etc. I don’t understand all the people driving from across the country to witness the trial or all of the picketing. Maybe I am just being naive but I do think to say it is racism that increases our interest amounts to some kind of reverse racism.  Somehow it demeans the sorrow we should feel that a little girl is dead, as if we shouldn’t feel as sorry for her because she is white.

3. Erosion of Trust in the Legal System — As to consequences, I have thought about them in reverse, as in how do we get to this point where mothers (and there are plenty of proven cases of infanticide out there) kill their own children. I think that instead of worrying about the consequences of this case, we should consider that this is the legal system which gave permission for women to kill their unborn children. Why should we be surprised when it allows them to walk free when the children are outside of the womb? And what are we doing to stop it? Maybe instead of spending so much time thinking about Casey Anthony and her little girl, we should concentrate on putting an end to the countless murders which go on everyday with the consent our legal system. Then maybe it would be a system worth trusting again.

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Observations on the Casey Anthony Case—Part 1

By Jim Spiegel

In the wake of last week’s verdicts concerning Casey Anthony, there have been some interesting conversations in the Spiegel household, as I’m sure has been the case all over the country.  Amy and I both believe Casey Anthony is responsible for her daughter’s death, and therefore at least guilty of aggravated child abuse, if not manslaughter or murder.  However, we disagree over whether the jury’s decision in the case was warranted.  Amy believes the jury’s decision was irrational, while I think that, given the standard of proof (“beyond reasonable doubt”) AND the actual evidence available for the jury to review, the decision was justified.

We thought it might be interesting to air some of our observations about the case.  Though I’m sure that, like us, you have suffered a bit of news fatigue from all of the coverage already, perhaps you’ll find some of our comments helpful.  Here are my (Jim’s) observations:

1. A Point About Logic — The jurors agreed that the available evidence was insufficient to prove Anthony’s guilt of a felony “beyond reasonable doubt.”  Note that this standard for proof requires either a deductive argument or an overwhelmingly strong inductive argument (from probability).  Since, among other things, there were no eyewitness accounts and there was no ascertainable cause of death, the causal link between Caylee’s death and her mother’s actions could not be established either deductively or inductively.  Of course, most of us are confident that Casey Anthony is indeed guilty of a horrible crime (i.e., murder, manslaughter or aggravated child abuse), but the method we use is what is commonly called abduction, where one reasons to the best explanatory hypothesis, given the available data.  However, showing that manslaughter or severe neglect by Casey Anthony is the best explanation of Caylee’s death does not meet the more stringent requirement of “beyond reasonable doubt.”

2. Racism and Classism — The media frenzy over this case is yet one more example of how news networks are socially and ethnically selective when it comes to the stories they follow and pump up to the level of a national phenomenon.  Would this story have been so widely reported if the people involved were not white, attractive, or upper middle class?  Perhaps this point is so obvious that it shouldn’t need to be made.  And yet, sadly, it does need to be made.

3. Erosion of Trust in the Legal System — As writers and public figures have been commenting on the Anthony case, we’ve repeatedly heard them lament the lack of justice for little Caylee.  Indeed, this is something to grieve.  But there is something else to grieve here, whether warranted or not (and I don’t think it is), and that is how this case will affect public trust in the American legal system.  Add this one to the acquittals of O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson as a landmark trial whose outcome undermines that trust.

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Hodgepodge

By Jim Spiegel

Goodbye, Congressman Weiner — The last two weeks have we’ve seen American public life sink to a new low.  Finally, with Weiner’s resignation, we have some closure.  I was astonished at how many people defended the guy when the story first broke and he hemmed and hawed his way through interviews.  Then when he finally admitted the truth, there were yet others who insisted he didn’t need to resign.  Wow.  Perhaps the most disturbing thing about this story is how it reveals that our public threshold for shock and outrage continues to rise.  Recently I heard someone remark, “Our tolerance for sin rises with our tolerance for that same sin in our own lives.”  Scary thought.

Just Deserts — There are three different theories of punishment.  Retributivists maintain that we should punish criminals because it is what they deserve.  Deterrentists say that punishment properly aims to deter crime.  And reformativists argue that punishment is justified as a means of rehabilitating the criminal.  The fate of this rapist, severe though it is, just might satisfy the aims of all three paradigms.  In any case, I’d like to see more of them meet the same fate.

Mavs Over Heat — I’m on roll with my pro sports championship predictions, as the Mavericks defeated the Heat last week.  (Well, I was on roll, as just a couple days later the Boston Bruins knocked off the Vancouver Canucks for the NHL Stanley Cup—defying my prediction.  Oh well, all streaks eventually end.)  The Mavs’ win was doubly satisfying, at least for me.  Dirk Nowitzki finally “got his ring,” as sports journalists love to put it.  I’m just glad that now they’ll shut up about his “not winning the big one” (what a crock that is, not just here but in every case that hackneyed line is used to concoct a sports “story”—blecch!)  It’s also satisfying to see how the bluster of the “Three Kings of Miami” was not rewarded.  Remember LeBron’s talk last summer about winning eight championships?  I expect the Heat will win one eventually, perhaps more.  But King James will first need to take a cue from the Mavs’ owner, Mark Cuban, who actually shut his mouth and ate some humble pie, only after which did his team win one.

Vampire Weekend — Have you discovered the world’s best Ivy League, preppie-styled, chamber rock quartet?  If not, you need to check them out.  Their two albums are deservedly highly acclaimed.  And their videos are consistently innovative and fun.  Here are two of my faves:  A-Punk and Holiday.  And check out these live performances in the KCRW studio:  Ottoman, Run, Horchata, and California English.