Reducing Aggression, the Raw Material of Religion & Punk-Rock Rebellion
Here’s your weekly(-ish) roundup of everything I’ve curated or created online, December 30, 2023–January 6, 2024.
Thought-Provoking Content
Is This war a Divine Punishment? by Joshua Berman in The Times of Israel:
From the Bible through the Shtetl our forefathers believed that when collective calamity befalls us, we must stand before the Almighty in recognition of our failings—our sins. But there is very little talk of “sin” as the cause of our current crisis, even within religious circles.
At every stage of our history, our greatest texts have affirmed that collective calamity is caused by our own misdeeds. Every story in the Bible where Israel suffers teaches this lesson.
When it comes to such repentance, I submit that Leviticus 19:34 would be a good place to start.
Backbone, Mouthpiece, and Good News: A Word From the Black Church by Justin Giboney in Comment:
The only way to see God in someone who antagonizes you is to be determined to see it. You have to want to see it. You have to love and fear God too much not to see it.
Smell of Women's Tears May Reduce Aggression in Men—Study by Fred Schwaller in Duetsche Welle:
The authors collected “emotional” tears from six female donors, which they exposed to men while they played a video game designed to provoke aggression. In another experiment, the men played the game while in a magnetic resonance imagine (MRI) scanner, which measured their brain activity.
The men displayed 43.7% fewer aggressive behaviors after smelling the women's tears, compared to men who smelled a control solution. The brain imaging experiments found that sniffing tears reduced brain activity in regions related to aggression.
The Poverty of Anti-Wokeness by Geoff Shullenberger in Compact:
Appeals to identity to extract limited concessions from power will likely be deployed more than ever in the years to come by members of all political factions. This is especially true as long as America lacks both an economic settlement that benefits ordinary people and a compelling account of shared national purpose.
Where Does Religion Come From? by Ross Douthat in The New York Times:
Given the existence and influence of Christianity, it makes sense that some intellectuals in a decadent post-Christian society would be drawn back toward its consolations. But why were we given Christianity in the first place?
The raw material of religion ... is ... revelation crying out for interpretation, personal encounter awaiting a coherent intellectual response.
Justin Brierley has a good roundup and discussion of Hirsi Ali’s conversion story here.
Bono’s Punk-Rock Rebellion Was a Cry of Hopeful Lament by Mike Cosper invterviewing Bono in Christianity Today:
“Underneath lament, there’s always a certain kind of hope. Punk music is the sound of rebellion. You have all this trauma in your background, this sense of loss. It seems like hope itself was a rebellious act in your world at that time.”
What Happens to the Brain During Consciousness-Ending Meditation? by Shayla Love in Psyche:
Similar brain desynchronisation has been observed when people are given anaesthetic doses of propofol or ketamine, but not during sleep.
Consumer Reports Finds 'Widespread' Presence of Plastics in Food by Jonathan Stempel in CTV News/Reuters:
Among tested supermarket foods, Annie's Organic Cheesy Ravioli contained the most phthalates in nanograms per serving, 53,579, followed by Del Monte sliced peaches and Chicken of the Sea pink salmon.
Elevated phthalate levels were also found in products such as Cheerios, Gerber baby food and Yoplait yogurt, and several burgers, nuggets and fries from Wendy's, Burger King and McDonald's.
Phthalates and bisphenols can disrupt the production and regulation of estrogen and other hormones, potentially boosting the risk of birth defects, cancer, diabetes, infertility, neurodevelopmental disorders, obesity and other health problems.
Music
None have sinned
To deserve this
Work of God
Now begin
And, when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed lives at last
where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds Thy glory hide.
Devotional
Ellen G. White on New Year’s Day
Compiled by Pastor David Hamstra
The Significance of New Year's Day
Although in one sense the first day of a new year is no more to God than any other day, yet he often puts into the heart of his children at that time a desire to begin the new year with good resolves,—perhaps with plans to carry out some worthy enterprise,—and with purposes to depart from the wrongs of the old year, and to live the new year with new determinations (Youth's Instructor, 11 February 1908).
Reflecting on Past, Present, and Future on New Year's Day
I hope that the youth who read this will reflect in regard to the past, the present, and the future. Decide now, at the commencement of the new year, that you will choose the path of righteousness, that you will be earnest and true-hearted, and that life with you shall not prove a mistake. Go forward, guided by the heavenly angels; be courageous; be enterprising; let your light shine; ... (Youth's Instructor, 5 January 1881).
Retrospection on the Old Year
A few more days, and we enter upon a new year. Let each ask himself these questions, and conscientiously answer them: Has the past year been to me a success, or a failure? How stands the record in the books of heaven? Has my spiritual vitality been lowered? Have I had a name to live, while I was dead? (Review and Herald, 23 December 1890).
Restoring Wrongs Before the Year Ends
Brethren, 1886 is almost gone. Improve its few remaining moments in making restitution for wrongs. Make thorough work for eternity (Review and Herald, 14 December 1886).
The Possibilities of the New Year
The old year, with its burden of record, is fast passing away. The new year, with all its possibilities, will soon be ushered in. What advancement have we made in the knowledge of Christ during the past year? Are we prepared to show, more decidedly than ever before, that we are on the Lord's side? At this time, when the nations of the world are wavering between infidelity and idolatry, are we prepared to stand as faithful ambassadors for Christ? Shall we not, at the beginning of this new year, give ourselves and all we have to God? Shall we not listen to His voice, which calls us to a renewed contest, to a more thorough consecration of ourselves and our intrusted capabilities to His service? (Signs of the Times, 2 January 1901).
New Year's Resolutions
The new year has commenced, and with the commencement of this new year, you should dedicate yourselves to God. Now give yourself to him, soul, body, and spirit, to do his will (Youth's Instructor, 1 January 1856).
Cooperating with the Holy Spirit in the New Year
His Spirit is at work upon minds, preparing them to receive the truth. Let your efforts be fully up with the openings of his providence. Do something, do it now; and let the record of the new year be one that you will not be ashamed to meet (Review and Herald, 20 January 1885).
Pressing Together in the New Year
Let the remnant of this year be improved in destroying every fiber of the root of bitterness, burying them in the grave with the old year. Begin the new year with more tender regard, with deeper love, for every member of the Lord's family. Press together. (Review and Herald, 16 December 1884).
Planning for the New Year
The new year is just before us, and plans should be laid for earnest, persevering effort in the Master's service. There is much to be done to advance the work of God (Review and Herald, 20 January 1903).
New Year's Greetings
But whatever the cares and sorrows of life, whatever its mistakes and errors, the words, “A Happy New Year,” uttered as an expression of love and respect, fall pleasantly upon the ear.And yet, are not these kindly wishes often forgotten with the utterance? How often we fail of carrying their import into the daily life, and thus aid in their fulfilment! How often the New Year's greeting is uttered by insincere lips, from hearts that would not forego one selfish gratification in order to make others happy! (Signs of the Times, January 7, 1903).
New Year's Day Gifts
I see no objection to placing even in our churches a Christmas or New Year tree bearing fruit in gifts and offerings for the cause of God. We may thus take advantage of the occasion to turn the customary gifts of the season into the right channel. And such a holiday celebration is a useful lesson to our children, teaching them to bestow their gifts in a manner to honor their Redeemer. But when we devote our means and labor to feasting ourselves, we fail to render to God that honor which is his due (Signs of the Times, 4 January 1883).
New Year's Celebrations
Those who have the blessing of health should co-operate with Christ by helping the weak. The blessing of God rests upon those who represent Christ by doing this work. Christmas and New Year celebrations can and should be held in behalf of those who are helpless. God is glorified when we give to help those who have large families to support (Letters and Manuscripts, vol. 11, Manuscript 13, 1896).