Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

The death of children and adults reminds us that violence continues to be an unsolved problem in the US. Fox News  ( McKay ) reported the deaths of children in Chicago in a week-- 3 children shot dead. In the  CNN story, they report that on Father's Day weekend, 67 were shot and 11 killed. So far, there have been 268 murders in Chicago by mid-July, which is up 22% over last year. While several other crimes were average or lower, gun violence was up 33% from last year. In April, mass shootings were down 24% in the US, which reasonably appears linked to people staying home and many places being closed ( Bloomberg ). CBS reported that March was the first March without a school shooting in 18 years. Researchers can find data on injury deaths and homicides at healthypeople.gov T ips for staying safe from violent crime are available from the  National Crime Prevention Council. Protecting children - Save the Children Safe Schools NASSP Understanding work...

Inciting Christian Violence "I always thought that if more good people had concealed-carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walk in and kill…" Jerry Falwell Jr. (4 December 2015, CNN ). To loud applause, Falwell encouraged his students to arm themselves. The remarks were related to the latest mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. It didn’t take long before other Christians proclaimed their outrage. Well known progressive Christian leader Brian D. McLaren published an open letter (December 7, 2015, Huffingtonpost ). He advanced the progressive view that “authentic Christianity is the loving, peaceful, just and generous way of life embodied in Jesus. It is characterized more by self-giving than self-defense, by pre-emptive peacemaking rather than pre-emptive violence.” Also opposed to Falwell’s remarks was Shane Claiborne writing for RNS (05 December 2015). Claiborne cited the usual texts emphasizing Jesus...

FUNDAMENTALISTS – SCARY AS HELL “The problem is the extremists,” a Jewish friend said during a discussion about religiously motivated violence.   BBC news story on violence Religious fundamentalists are frequently in the news nowadays—largely because of some threat or horrific act. Recently, a Muslim group made news in France with the murder of Charlie Hebdo magazine staff in Paris (BBC). Hindu fundamentalists are on the rise in India and persecuting Christians according to a story in Christianity Today 23 January 2015. Some 300 clergy and church leaders are targeted. A report from 2014 claims some 7,000 Christians faced aggression and persecution from non-Christians. Muslims have also been under attack by Hindu fundamentalists who seek to convert Muslims and Christians. Muslims are about 14% of the population according to Free Speech Radio News . Popular Pope Francis has seen the need to speak out against all fundamentalists with a challenge to th...

HONORING BLACK LIVES:  LOVING NEIGHBORS Many in the U.S. will honor Black Lives Matter Sunday . This is an important opportunity to celebrate the love theme of advent by making it clear that the lives of Black citizens really do matter. Black leaders have called for a day of prayer and lifting up the significance of black lives and black communities. Christians are supposed to be people characterized by love for others. Obviously, many fall short. This weekend can be an opportunity for redemption. All Americans can show their respect for and love of Black Americans on Sunday, throughout the Christmas season, and in the years to come. Despite a Civil War in the 1800s and Civil Rights actions in the 1900s, racial prejudice and racial inequality persist in the 2000s. There's more work to do. Whites need to understand that racial inequality has not ended. This Sunday is an opportunity to realize the work begun in the Civil Rights era has not been comp...

Premarital     Counseling Boom Good news . People still fall in love and want to marry. Couples want their marriages to last. And many are willing to invest in premarital counseling. Bad news . Marriage rates are at an all-time low and recent divorce rates remain high. And the research on the possible benefits of premarital counseling is not impressive. See post about marriage in 2013 . Breaking news (almost). According to a Fox News story published 21 January 2014, “The Colorado Marriage Education Act would require potential spouses to complete 10 hours of pre-wedding marriage education. Twenty hours would be required for second marriages and 30 hours for third marriages, KDVR.com reported Monday.” Why Do People Think Premarital Counseling Helps? 1. Engaged couples feel satisfied with the programs they attended. Some even think premarital counseling is fun . But some complain about the negativity when programs discuss pitfalls. 2. One ...

Understanding Rapists What can  religious organizations do? Earlier this month, January, 2014, major news sources told of a  gang rape  of a young Hindu Indian woman who violated village norms by having an affair with a married Muslim man and did not pay her portion of the fine.  President Obama called . Recently, newly elected  problem of predatory priests  within the worldwide Catholic church, which of course is not alone among religious groups dealing with the problem of predatory clergy. The U.S.  high rate of rape  within the U.S. military. Laws against rape are close to universal. But rape happens. And rape happens often. LOVE, RAPE, AND THE BIBLE The Bible contains classic tales of romantic love as in the story of Isaac who was smitten with love for Rebekah whom he met at the local watering hole ( Genesis 24 ). But there are also horrific stories of rape and laws about rape. I’ll reference one story as evidence....

A Christmas Story Image Geoffrey W. Sutton with AI What's the Christmas Story about? Jesús Born Reports Lucas César Augusto, who loved making announcements almost as much as he loved peppermint bark, declared that everyone must sign up for healthcare by December 24. The website immediately collapsed in a dramatic swoon, and people across the land rushed around trying to find Wi‑Fi strong enough to revive it. José and María, expecting a baby any minute, didn’t have internet at home. So they bundled up, grabbed a blanket that smelled faintly of cinnamon, and trudged into town to borrow cousin David’s connection. David wasn’t there — his router blinked sadly, as if it too had given up — so they wandered to the Holly Day Inn. Clark, the night clerk, looked like he’d been working since last Christmas. “Sorry, folks, we’re full,” he said, gesturing toward a lobby overflowing with travelers, carolers, and one man who insisted he was a reindeer. José spotted a small office with a crooked...

PEACE "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9 During advent we witness peace represented as a baby. Evangelical preachers often speak of the power of God. But when I see a baby I think of a fragile and vulnerable life. New life needs protection and nurturance. Peace is like a baby. Peace is fragile and vulnerable to disruptions from many sources. Nurturing people affirm peace. Peacemakers nurture peace through gifts of time and talent. Like an infant, newly formed peace requires devotion. To survive, peace must be fed and clothed. People keep peace alive. People let peace die. Some people seek to destroy peace. When the Prince of Peace became a man, he made serious demands of his followers. When the light of Peace shone in the darkness, Peace was attacked and Peace surrendered. Peace died as did the hope of his followers. But then came life. Peace lived on in the hearts of his followers who shared the peace wit...