Author Archives: hessd

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About hessd

Here is all you need to know to follow this blog. I am an old man and I love to think about why we say the things we do. I've taught at the elementary, secondary, collegiate, and doctoral levels. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. I have taught political science for a long time and have practiced politics in and around the Oregon Legislature. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. You'll be seeing a lot about my favorite topics here. There will be religious reflections (I'm a Christian) and political reflections (I'm a Democrat) and a good deal of whimsy. I'm a dilettante.

Hearing God’s Voice

Posted on June 25, 2013 by hessd

How do you go about “hearing God’s voice?”  I’m not sure, to tell you the truth.  It isn’t anything I’ve ever been good at.  It may be that I just don’t have the basic capacity.  Or it may be that … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Paying Attention, ways of knowing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Skeptification

Posted on June 19, 2013 by hessd

We don’t always have at hand the words we need most.  A lot of people, facing this difficulty, chose a word with meanings close to what they need and call it good enough.  People who are more confident in their … Continue reading →

Posted in Paying Attention, Words | Leave a comment

What Will We Do After Work?

Posted on June 15, 2013 by hessd

And I don’t mean “after work” like 5:00 and I get to go home.  I mean “after work” like there isn’t enough work to do to sustain us as a country.  That kind of “after work.” I am not an … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Exception Proves the Rule

Posted on June 14, 2013 by hessd

This is a really cheap post.  I labor over some of my posts.  I use punctuation and everything.  For this one, I am going to point you to the website  (The Phrase Finder) that deserves the credit for this and … Continue reading →

Posted in Words | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Can You Be Too Skeptical?

Posted on June 11, 2013 by hessd

Yes.  You can. I want to refer, down the page a little, to a controversy between medical doctors.  Dr. Andrew Newberg, whom I know only from his recorded lectures, called “The Spiritual Brain” is one; the other is Dr. Steven … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, ways of knowing, Words | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Surveillance and Its Discontents

Posted on June 9, 2013 by hessd

The federal government has recently been prodded and leaked into admitting that they have been snooping on an unprecedented number of American citizens. I don’t really think this is an issue that is going to matter much.  It should, probably, … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Saving Normal

Posted on May 30, 2013 by hessd

Being “normal” is a little bit of a challenge.  There are several reasons why this is so.  One is that knowing what is “normal” is not always easy.  Then too, being “normal” is not always what one aspires to.  Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Retirement that Sparkles

Posted on May 23, 2013 by hessd

I want to admit, right away before someone reminds me of it, that it is my own retirement I am thinking of.  I know that yours—the one you are currently experiencing or the one you are hoping to experience—will likely … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Remembering Bonnie Zawacki, Part II

Posted on May 22, 2013 by hessd

In Part I, I passed along to you Bonnie Klein’s recollections of herself as a college student; Bonnie Zawacki, studying causal attribution with me at Westminster College.  The two of us—Bonnie and I—talked about building a new lens, a lens … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Political Psychology, ways of knowing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Remembering Socrates

Posted on May 14, 2013 by hessd

“The unexamined life is not worth living,” said Socrates.  I don’t think I would go quite that far, myself.  I do think I would say that in most cases, the properly examined life is “better” than the alternatives.  This comes … Continue reading →

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