By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., MFT. M.A., M.Div. Someone tried to shoot Donald. Was he a Republican or a Democrat? Was he conservative or progressive? How did someone with an assault rifle get so close to Donald? Why were the only ones to be killed and critically wounded innocent bystanders? Where was the Secret Service? Continue reading “Making America Great”
Author Archives: Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D.
Donald…The Worst President We Have Ever Had
By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.A., M.Div., MFT First, let me say that while lying and politicians have been the subject of many jokes since at least the time of Plato (or probably earlier), one must sort through humorous cynicism and those who use “the art of lying,” if you will, as a weapon meantContinue reading “Donald…The Worst President We Have Ever Had”
Stepping Back: Escaping the Echo Chamber
By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.A., M.Div. I grew up in the Church of the Nazarene that valued “testimonies.” Testimonies were rituals where a person would give a report of how a problem occurred and God, through prayer, fixed the problem. After hearing enough testimonies, I began to realize that if a person wanted toContinue reading “Stepping Back: Escaping the Echo Chamber”
Beware the Devil Wearing the Mask of Christian Nationalism
By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.A., M.Div. Note: This article is longer than normal, but it contains a great deal of information on Christian Nationalism and how to oppose it. Claiming that it is a fascist organization, I offer six ways that we might oppose this group along with the MAGA movement. I think itContinue reading “Beware the Devil Wearing the Mask of Christian Nationalism”
Minimal Decency as an Obligation for Our Leaders
By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.A., M.Div. I have never lived in a country ruled by a dictator. Basically, in a dictatorship, anyone who does not agree with the dictator is considered an enemy and dealt with as such. Since policy under a dictator is at the whim of the dictator, no one really knowsContinue reading “Minimal Decency as an Obligation for Our Leaders”
The Lee Greenwood and Donald Trump Endorsed Bible
By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.A., M.Div. Since moving to this area, I have been singing Karaoke at both the local golf club and a local restaurant. I’m not great at it, but I have a lot of fun joining with friends to “howl at the moon,” so to speak. One night, though, a friendContinue reading “The Lee Greenwood and Donald Trump Endorsed Bible”
Faith Without Religion
By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.A., M.Div. I have to admit, I enjoy TikTok, and I am a little concerned that on my feed at least, there are so many expressing their dismay about religion in general and Christianity in particular. Now, before the chorus of loud “Amens!” begin to ring out, let me alsoContinue reading “Faith Without Religion”
A Lie Is a Lie…Right?
By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.A., M.Div. Emmanuel Kant believed that a lie was a lie and lying was and is always wrong. Do you agree? Most of my ethic students weren’t quite sure. Surely, they thought, a little lie—sometimes called “a white lie”—won’t hurt anything, would it? In fact, contrary to Kant, they wouldContinue reading “A Lie Is a Lie…Right?”
Erasing Cognitive Dissonance
Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.A., MFT Cognitive dissonance takes place when beliefs or ideas contradict a problem behavior causing mental anguish. To resolve the conflict, people rationalize their beliefs to justify their behavior. So, for example, a person who smokes may rationalize the behavior even though they know it is not good for them. ForContinue reading “Erasing Cognitive Dissonance”
Faithful Living and the Difference between Kerygma and Myth
By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.A., M.Div. It is impossible to use electric light and the wireless and to avail ourselves of modern medical and surgical discoveries, and at the same time to believe in the New Testament world of spirits and miracles. We may think we can manage it in our own lives, butContinue reading “Faithful Living and the Difference between Kerygma and Myth”