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
Category: Sociology
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
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
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
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?
The Trouble with Labels
Have you ever had a hard time explaining yourself to other people? How about when the options you have to describe yourself become limited? Any job application or survey which asks your race or gender becomes quickly confusing when you do not see your identity listed. Try telling someone your political party or religious affiliation… Continue reading The Trouble with Labels
The Slow Death of Marriage
Marriage is not a fundamental right, nor is it a government institution. Marriage is a relationship between one man and one woman that is supposed to represent an unbreakable union. The vows spoken before the altar are meant to be a verbal contract between man and wife. It is a promise that regardless of financial… Continue reading The Slow Death of Marriage
The Obesity Offense
I'm tired of suffering under the oppression of being fat. Obesity is socially constructed, and sometimes a person can carry around some extra weight and still be healthy. I used to watch the World’s Strongest Man competitions. While most of those guys lack washboard abs, they are strong enough to dead lift two young women… Continue reading The Obesity Offense
What is “Bad” Language?
Let us start with the idea of what vulgar language is. It is a social construction which I have never quite been able to comprehend. What makes a word like bitch, which means “female dog” less appropriate than calling someone a harlot, which is an actual human being who sells their sexual power for money?… Continue reading What is “Bad” Language?
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