Economic Prosperity: A Step of Faith, by Joseph Laconte in The American
Religion and Morality: Separated at Birth?, an essay by Marc D. Hauser in the Edge
We claim to celebrate individual differences and diversity in our society. But we dismiss or suppress nonconformity and separate the successful from the supposedly unsuccessful outcasts and outliers, (to borrow a phrase from Malcom Gladwell). Our obsession with celebrity has only increased this tendency. For anyone who’s felt like the odd-person out (and that includes most of us), here’s a reminder that qualities that are liabilities in some contexts can prove useful traits in others.
How We're Wired: 'The Science of Success' by David Dobbs in the Atlantic Monthly
The story of nonconformists and weirdos seeking enlightenment and truth to share with the rest of us is a pretty universal one, especially relevant this time of year. Think Joan of Arc and Rachel Carson. Think Thoreau, John the Baptist and Jesus. Maybe we should treat folks like these better when they’re among us. For a lighter look at this, see The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Coen Brothers by Cathleen Falsani reviewed on NPR. And keep those white Russians coming.
Have you ‘friended’ someone on Facebook or been friended through this or other social networking sites over the holidays? What has been your experience with the quality of those virtual relationships? Can you count on people out in the ether when the cat dies and you’ve lost your job and you break up with your significant other? See:
Faux Friendship by William Deresiewicz in the Chronicle of Higher Education
In the past month the husband of a colleague died and someone in my family has experienced a recurrence of cancer. Many people I know are struggling with the loss of jobs and work-related problems. Are we just not thinking the right thoughts? I’m reading Brightsided, by Barbara Ehrenreich. She tries to inject some sanity into the positive psychology/positive belief movement based on her experience and observations.
Best wishes for hope and happiness.