Donald Trump is possibly the most powerful man in America. His meteoric rise to the top of the Republican presidential ticket this primary season has cultural, historical, and future ramifications that I think too many Americans are missing. Americans, as a nation, have become incredibly short sighted. For three out of his four years in… Continue reading The Modern American Prometheus
Category: Society
Modern Materialism and Value Giving
Consider for a moment how many of our material possessions contain little to no inherent value. No matter what technological advances we make, the objects that we acquire for our entertainment needs are essentially worth the sum of the parts that they are made with. Our homes are furnished with "things" that are not valuable… Continue reading Modern Materialism and Value Giving
The Power of the Image
The image is an intriguing construction. Not only visible, an image can also be produced through sound and touch. We can even close our eyes and create an image that is unique to our imaginations. There are natural images, such as forests or mountains. There are also socially constructed images, which are pretty much anything… Continue reading The Power of the Image
My Thoughts on the FBN GOP Debate
My thoughts on the GOP debate on Fox Business. **Disclaimer: I am a registered Independent, but I lean heavily Libertarian. I will more than likely vote for one of these people over any Democrat candidate. Ted Cruz: I believe he won the debate. He was clear, concise, answered the questions, and did not come off… Continue reading My Thoughts on the FBN GOP Debate
The Postmodern World
I want us all to really think hard about this: There will be people voting in the next election who have no personal connection to America prior to George W. Bush. There is a massive voting bloc who were 3 years old when the World Trade Center went down. There are millions of eligible voters… Continue reading The Postmodern World
Ten Rules for Improved Voting
Election season is upon us, and between the media distortions, public shaming of your beliefs, and peer pressure to vote the way your family and friends do, you may desperately be seeking advice on how to make a proper voting decision. Here is my guide to choosing the best candidate for you. Remember your principles:… Continue reading Ten Rules for Improved Voting
Evil is NOT a Social Construction
As a Christian social scientist, my personal views are often at odds with those of my peers. That is not to say that I cannot apply sociological thought and theory to the world around me. In fact, I believe it gives me a unique perspective in both the academic and religious worlds. I believe that… Continue reading Evil is NOT a Social Construction
Social Media, Biblical End Times, and the Inevitable Trump
A recent conversation in my church small group really got me thinking about where we are headed as a society. I have no doubt that my group is full of well-intentioned, reasonable people who truly do their best to walk with God. That being said, we had a pretty interesting disagreement over media and social… Continue reading Social Media, Biblical End Times, and the Inevitable Trump
My Presidential Platform
This would be my plan if I were to ever run for POTUS. Taxes: I support a flat, fair, or consumption tax. I would eliminate corporate capital gains taxes and close loopholes. If flat or fair taxation is implemented, families making $50,000 or less would pay nothing. If I could pass a consumption tax, I… Continue reading My Presidential Platform
How Do You Gender?
Operational Definitions: Sex is biological. This is your DNA, your genitalia, and any physiological marker of male and female. Gender is socially constructed (Berger 1967). This is a fluid construct that can change over time and context. It is your behavior at any given moment. A century ago, it was proper for a “man” to… Continue reading How Do You Gender?
Simmons' Opinions 