Tag Archives: Faith

Kathy Shaidle, R.I.P.

Posted on January 11, 2021 by N.S. Palmer

Blogger Kathy Shaidle died yesterday, but she lived long enough to write her own obituary. It’s a classic of class. R.I.P., Kathy. I hope to meet you someday (but not too soon): “Kathy Shaidle 1964 – 2021 Following a tedious … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | Tagged Blogger, Courage, Faith, Humor, Kathy Shaidle, obituary, Smart women | Leave a comment

Prevent Suicide But Don’t Miss The Point

Posted on September 25, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

You might not know it — I didn’t, until a couple days ago — but September is National Suicide Prevention Month. It’s a good cause, but focusing on suicide risks missing the point. The suicide is only the final act … Continue reading →

Posted in Psychology | Tagged Courage, Despair, Faith, Hope, Suicide, Suicide Prevention Month | Leave a comment

How to Beat the Social-Isolation Blues

Posted on May 9, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Are you discouraged? Depressed? Fearful? Confused? Unmotivated? Then I’ve got a cure for you. It’s guaranteed. It costs nothing. And it will pay dividends for the rest of your life. You need to know three things. The first two are … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Science | Tagged Evolutionary Psychology, Faith, Hope, Neuroscience, Optimism, Positive attitude, Psychology, Wisdom | 3 Comments

Show Up for the Future

Posted on March 18, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

The future belongs to the people who show up for it. It’s as simple as that. I can’t tell you what will happen with the Covid-19 virus. But I can tell you that fear is at least as deadly as … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | Tagged Courage, COVID-19, Faith, Fear, Future, Overcoming fear, Perseverance, Wuhan virus | 2 Comments

A Science Experiment About Life

Posted on February 7, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Science is basically about observing the world and trying to deduce its fundamental laws. It can get a little more complicated, but that’s the essential method. So let’s try a science experiment about life. It’s easy, it’s informative, and you … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Psychology | Tagged Courage, Faith, Life, Observation, Perspective, Science, Serenity | 2 Comments

Believe in the Future

Posted on August 21, 2019 by N.S. Palmer

Many people dismiss faith as “believing what you know isn’t true.” But that’s wrong. At its most helpful, faith is believing what might be true: We will be alive tomorrow. The future can be good. Life has meaning and purpose. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Life, Psychology | Tagged Belief, Believe, Confidence, Faith, Hope, Moral order, Optimism, Set an example, Trust in God, Trust in the future, William James | 2 Comments

Do We Need Religion to be Good People?

Posted on August 20, 2018 by N.S. Palmer

“Does being religious make someone a good person?” Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Jewish Philosophy, Judaism, Modern Orthodoxy | Tagged Christianity, Divine Law, Faith, Halacha, Judaism, Matthew Arnold, Morality, Prayer, Religion, Social harmony | 5 Comments

What Is Faith in God?

Posted on November 2, 2015 by N.S. Palmer

What does it mean to have faith in God? It’s not a simple question. Lately, I’ve been wrestling with The Tenacity of Unreasonable Beliefs, a book that tries to analyze religious belief from a psychological perspective. The author, Solomon Schimmel, … Continue reading →

Posted in Epistemology, Jewish Philosophy, Judaism, Philosophy | Tagged Faith, Judaism, Orthodox Judaism, Religious Skepticism, Schimmel, The Tenacity of Unreasonable Beliefs | 4 Comments

Seeing Life in Context

Posted on October 7, 2015 by N.S. Palmer

As I said the morning prayers today, I realized something: That act sets a context for my whole day. No matter what happens to me today — good, bad, or indifferent — the prayers remind me that it’s not all … Continue reading →