Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

  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 t...

  Evolving 2023 Geoffrey W. Sutton & Bing AI Evolution, Psychology, and Christianity Irreconcilable Differences Barriers and Bridges The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection was published 24 November 1859. Scientists have built on the solid foundation laid by Charles Darwin 165 years ago. New discoveries have refined the theory and expanded our understanding of the evolution of life. For example, we know a lot more about genetics than scientists did in the 1800s. As is commonly known, Christian leaders have denounced evolution and fought the teaching of evolution in American public schools for more than a century. Clearly, the evolutionary explanation of the origins of life, including human beings, is not compatible with traditional Christian teaching about the creation. Evolution explains the diversity of life through such processes as natural selection, mutation, and genetic drift. All species evolve and those that survive to reproduce pass along their gen...

Why the US Needs Allies According to a report by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the recent expansion of the BRICS group of nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to include six new members (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates) will have a significant impact on the future of the international balance of powers. According to Wikipedia, the BRICS group of nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) has a combined nominal GDP of US $28 trillion and a total GDP (PPP) of around US$57 trillion as of 2018. In 2021, China had the largest nominal GDP of the group at $16.86 trillion. In contrast to the BRICS group, The US GDP was $25.462 trillion in 2022 (US Bureau of Economic Analysis). The expansion of the BRICS group signifies a growing alignment of geopolitical and economic agendas within the bloc. The new members will add their voices to advocating for a more equitable global governance system, reforming t...

                  Einstein and the God Problem Barriers to the Integration of Christianity and Science —Including Psychological Science Every so often, the famous German scientist, Albert Einstein makes news. He’s been quoted and misquoted on a variety of subjects outside his area of expertise. It is not surprising to read what Einstein said about God or religion if a quote suggests that such a brilliant scientist believed in God. Earlier this year, one of Einstein’s letters valued at $125,000 was for sale. The RNS story title is eye-catching ( Karmarkar, 2023 ): “Rare Einstein letter rebutting biblical creation story for sale.” Perhaps it shouldn’t matter what Einstein thought about creation. Afterall, Einstein was a theoretical physicist—not a religious scholar. Nevertheless, the biblical creation story has been around for well over two thousand years and many continue to argue for a literal interpretation of the Genesis text rather t...

  Christmas Couple 2023 by Geoffrey Sutton & Image Designer   Now it came to pass one snowy Christmas Eve, that Will invited Cate to join him at church where Amelia, his much younger sister, was to shine as an angel. Will and Cate had become close friends as they worked together on High School physics projects. Both were brilliant students who shared a passion for science and perhaps for each other. Cate was more of an independent thinker with a bold openness to new experiences, but she knew she wanted to be a gynaecologist* and already had a university scholarship. Will saw the world in a more conventional way. He was an agreeable and conscientious lad who did not poke holes in the status quo. His parents had paved the way for him to attend a church affiliated college where he would major in physics. Will’s career path was about to change.   Will was in a reflective mood as he watched his sister manage her wings with their mother’s help. Logs burned brightly in...