Tag: religion
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Prague Day 7 – Church Visit, Recovery, and Dinner
As much as it pains me to admit it, I’m getting older. The 9-mile hike I did the day before to the summit of Snezka left me tired and sore. Luckily, with complete autonomy over my schedule, I could take the day off. And, so I did. As a sociologist of religion, I do try…
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Questions to Ask Missionaries and Evangelists
I was hurriedly walking to a meeting across my campus about a week ago when a young man stopped me and asked, “Do you mind if I ask you a question?” Without waiting for me to respond, he asked, “What church do you go to?” When I told him I don’t go to church, he…
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Does religion really improve educational outcomes?
Horwitz makes the claim that religiosity is beneficial for working-class young men when it comes to their educational attainment. The claims in the article are clear illustrations of two logical fallacies – faulty generalization and cherry-picking.
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Disingenuous Christian Proselytizing
I get a lot of emails. I try to answer all of my emails but am increasingly realizing that some of it may not be worthy of a response. For instance, a few days ago I received an email from someone claiming to have listened to a podcast I did. Here’s what he wrote: Hi…
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A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant
On December 17th, Debi and I (along with two friends) went to the American Stage Theatre Company’s presentation of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant. As someone who studies religion for his job, is fascinated by religion, and lives near Clearwater, FL, one of the centers of Scientology, I had high hopes. Those hopes…
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cat problem and innate morality
Our neighbors to the east of us recently moved out (they were renting). In the last couple of months before they moved out, we think they adopted a young cat. They may not have and the cat may have just showed up recently, but it seemed to spend a lot of time in their yard,…
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nice story about my brother Mark
I was chatting with my Mom over IM the other day when she told me a story about my brother Mark (well, sort of). A little background is required. After the funeral and the internment ceremony, there was a reception at my parents church (which is right next to the cemetery). At the reception there…
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On TV again – as an expert on “heaven”
I received an email from the director of PR at my university last week looking for an expert on religion to comment on a news story the local Fox affiliate was running about heaven and different conceptions of heaven. While a religious studies scholar might have been a better option, I figured I know enough…
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RE: Joys of Muslim Women – more debunking
Another relative (not my uncle this time), sent me the email below, but (I think smartly) asked me if it was accurate. My response follows the email: This was written by a woman born in Egypt as a Muslim. This is not heresay, and it will scare the life out of you. Make sure you read…
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my best publication yet!
I don’t typically mention my publications on this blog, but this is one about which I am particularly proud. I think it is a significant contribution not only to the study of Mormonism but also to theory in the Sociology of Religion as well. I’m also proud of it because of the amount of time…