Wednesday, January 31, 2024

The Cost of Leaving a Church

 


To leave a Christian group can involve a painful loss. In addition to the pain of condemnation, there is the potential loss of family and friends. For some, it can mean an economic loss. Some may experience grief or grief mixed with relief.

A religious way of life is an investment—a call to commitment (Mt 10:37–38).

 The social psychology principle of sunk costs helps explain why some, but not all, Christians continue to support traditional views about biblical texts and doctrines such as those dealing with creation, morality, or sexuality. In contrast, some Christians seem able to throw off old ways of thinking or behaving with relative ease. 


The notion of sunk costs refers to the way some investors fail to cut their losses from a bad investment. Instead, they pour more money into it hoping for a recovery. It appears to be a part of human nature to conserve what one has rather than take a loss and look for better options.

 

The application of sunk costs to leaving a religious group involves the investment of emotional energy into preserving beliefs and traditions even when people find the old beliefs or traditions no longer make sense to them. 


Some cope with sunk costs by investing time in religious causes or programs; others energetically devour new Christian books as they search for new insights that will reassure them that their faith investment still makes sense. Some Christians find themselves trapped as professors at conservative Christian colleges or leaders in conservative Christian organizations. They continue to invest their lives in these positions rather than take the risk of leaving for a more compatible environment.





Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   X  @Geoff.W.Sutton    


You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation. 














Friday, January 26, 2024

The Importance of Helping Refugees

 




I recently saw a social media post decrying money spent on refugees in the United States. As a fiscal conservative, I am concerned about the national debt and the burden it places on future Americans.

Nevertheless, I disagree with the posted remarks. Here’s why.

1. We have a legal obligation.

Sometimes the United States' actions overseas cause the displacement of people, which can lead to their refugee status. The Council on Foreign Relations provides a detailed overview of the U.S. Refugee System and its history. The U.S. government has a legal obligation to accept refugees based on the 1951 Refugee Convention and its own domestic law.

2. We have a moral obligation of indebtedness to those who help us.

According to the Costs of War Project, the US post-9/11 wars have displaced at least 38 million people in and from eight countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, the Philippines, Libya, and Syria. Many of these displaced persons have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in other countries, including the US. Some of these refugees have gone on to serve in the US military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.

It is important to note that refugees are not just victims of war, but also active participants in it. They have contributed to the US military in various ways, including as interpreters, intelligence analysts, and cultural advisors. In fact, many of these refugees have risked their lives to help the US military, and some have even died in the line of duty.

3. We have an obligation to ourselves. Trust is a two-way concept.

If we refuse to help those who help us then to whom shall we turn in the future? When it comes to war overseas, we can only expect help from locals who have a reason to trust us that we will protect them.

References

How Does the U.S. Refugee System Work? - Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-does-us-refugee-system-work-trump-biden-afghanistan.

Refugees & Health | Costs of War. https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/costs/human/refugees.

 


 Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   @Geoff.W.Sutton    


You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 




Sunday, January 14, 2024

Ordained by God- Politics & Religion




 The Washington Post story on 14 January 2024 quotes a Trump supporter and reveals insight into the American evangelical mind.

Understanding American evangelical morality can be tricky because the personal sins of the widely supported candidate are aside based on his perceived victory in defeating the national sin of abortion, which no previous candidate could accomplish.



This great act trumps other issues. This righteous win cloaks the winner with robes of justice that shine more brightly than those of the contenders. The plethora of legal challenges intensifies the spotlight on the man "ordained by God."


The integration of faith and politics is summed up in a supporter's t-shirt: "Jesus in My Savior: Trump is My President." Jesus is on the cross within the red and white stripes of the American flag. Trump is on the blue field surrounded by the stars.

If you study religion, the following new book containing numerous survey items may be helpful.





 Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   @Geoff.W.Sutton    


You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton