The Fallacy of Principles Above People

I was speaking with a friend the other day who was concerned about Christian culture and its affect on us to shroud who we are in secrecy, afraid that others might see us fall short of the standard. As we worked it out in conversation, I began to see a common thread running through the mentalities of many Christians, and that is the concept of "Principles Above People". The enduring Christian tradition is so deeply rooted in our Christian culture that in order to ensure its survival, we must not allow anyone to desecrate our holy Christian law. These rules, some Christians call them principles or standards, have been so elevated as to now have nothing to do with the purpose behind them: people.

When Jesus speaks in the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, he is clear. Using several examples from the Mosaic law, Jesus points at the legalists' short-sightedness. Seeing only as far as the rules themselves, they were content to hate one another, as long as they didn't commit murder, tell lies and break promises, as long as they weren't breaking lawful oaths, or commit adultery in the heart, degrading with the mind, as long as they were kept physically pure. Pushing the external displays of piety aside, Jesus points to the purpose of it all: It's about the heart. What good is your physical purity if your intent has degraded marital union in your heart? Or if you keep the technical rules of a lawful oath, but intentionally mislead another? Do you think that you are holy by holding in a display of your hatred towards another? The truth is as Paul says in Romans 3. No one can live up to the law. No one can stand to principles. And so we hide behind masks, concealing ourselves though we commune with our very own family, brothers and sisters in Jesus.

But there is something more important than our principles. Yes, even more important than the topics of drugs, alcohol, extramarital sex, abortion, and gay marriage. Behind these issues are people. The very people who Jesus came to save. Not, I might add, the pious principle-clingers who thought they were well. One of them comes to Jesus in Luke 18. He is very wealthy and young, proudly stating that he has kept all the principles. Unimpressed Jesus says to him, why don't you go take your money and give it to people.

-Taylor

New Beginnings

Today I was thinking of a few people in my life who have impressed me by some big decisions they're making. My sister, Kelsey, and my friend, Liz, will be leaving the country for some months to live elsewhere, Kelsey to Scotland for school in the Fall, and Liz to Chile to teach English in a week or so. I was thinking about how brave, yet rewarding it will be to take those risks. I wrote this in my notebook a few nights ago:

Liz left today. Headed to Tulsa, then to Chile. To her dream - her brave dream.
Would I ever leave this town, I might come close to a dream. But not here. The grass isn't green enough.
And Kelsey. Going to Scotland.
How brave.
What could I experience if I weren't so afraid? or lazy?
Every step is much too short. Small bites. Manageable, so I feel safe. And always slightly disappointed, I console myself - "It's temporary. Just a step on my way."
- "But someday. Right. right?"
When will I take the step that makes me fight for balance? - The bite that's too much to chew? I would, though slightly disappointed, console myself - "What an experience, though... I'll be alright. I'll be fine."

-Taylor

Tonal Movement through Development Sections

This was a topic that I came into by way of a lecture I heard in my undergrad by Dr. Steven Lubin. He had written a dissertation on the topic of how composers moved through tonal centers in the development sections of First-Movement Form of the Classical Era. He viewed the possibilities of keys as kind of a landscape, upon which the themes set out on their journey before arriving home in the recapitulation sections.
He began by drawing up a small diagram demonstrating a key (in this case, C) and its closely related keys. On either side of C (no flats and no sharps) are the two keys immediately next to it in the circle of Fifths - F (one flat) and G (one sharp). Above and below C are listed the tonic minor (c minor) and the relative minor (a minor). And above and below F and G are their respective tonic and relative minors. From here keys can be continually added on either side along with their respective tonic and relative minor keys. Finally, those keys can begin to repeat vertically as well in a sort of pattern.
Using this method, Dr. Lubin created a 3-Dimensional sort of globe upon which one could visually map-out the progression through tonal centers. I have, as an example, mapped out the tonal progression through the development section of Beethoven's Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3. So here, we have Beethoven beginning in E-flat and immediately progressing through c minor, to C Major, to F Major, through b-flat minor and E-flat Major, going a little to far to A-flat Major before returning to the home key of E-flat.

This is exciting in that it gives me a way to do some visual analysis on these Beethoven Piano Sonatas.

-Taylor

The Hebbian Learning Rule

While reading The Science of Happiness by Stefan Klein, Ph.D., I came across a passage that I quoted in this post some time ago. I'll go ahead and re-quote that here.

Even if we're feeling huge anger or fear, it's to our advantage to bring our emotions under control. When we [do this], there's a two-fold effect on the brain. For one, we're less likely to react negatively to start with, because the connection between the stimulus and the emotional response to it is weakened. Second, we strengthen the ability to restrain such emotions, should they be released after all. ... Conscious control of the emotions has to be practiced. (p. 59)

This got me thinking a little bit about the application of visualization to this principle. I wonder if this emotional response could be practiced before we are called upon to cope in the moment. Would envisioning scenarios and practicing a response in either role-play or entirely within the imagination have a similar effect to actually experiencing a situation in which you'll actually need to employ self-control to prevent the further strengthening of the bond between stimulus and emotional response?

-Taylor Baldwin

Two Cheese and Bacon Clafoutis

Decided to try to make a savory clafoutis this morning. It worked out quite nicely. Clafoutis was originally a French dessert made with cherries. Over time it has become a dessert made with all kinds of fruit. I first learned of clafoutis from this article by Mark Bittman of the New York Times. I decided that clafoutis were so simple, cheap, and somewhat healthy, I had to use it in a savory application. Since it is essentially a pancake batter poured over fruit, why not a savory breakfast application. This recipe makes for just one serving and includes cheese, bacon, and no sugar.

1 egg
6 Tbsp half & half
2 Tbsp ricotta cheese
1/4 cup flour
salt/pepper
1 strip bacon
1/4 cup grated cheese
1 Tbsp chives

Adding them one at a time, whisk together the first three ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Next you'll want to slowly add the sifted flour and stop whisking once it's just incorporated - sifted and slowly so it doesn't clump up and just once incorporated so the batter doesn't stiffen. Add a pinch of pepper and salt (the bacon and cheese will also add some salt).
In a gratin dish or souffle dish (really any heavy-bottomed, oven-safe dish will work), spray some Pam and roll some flour around inside until it is all coated, then knock the the dish upside down against something to get any loose flour out. In the bottom of the gratin dish, evenly distribute cheese, bacon, and chives. Next, pour the batter slowly over the cheese, bacon, and chives, and bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes, or until set. It will be a fairly custard-y mixture, so you don't want it dry.

This thing is so good and so easy to make. This thing couldn't be more than a $1.50 to put together. If you want to get it even healthier, just do less cheese and cut the half & half with some milk. But if you have an hour to spare on Saturday morning, like I did today, it'll be well worth the time.

-Taylor Baldwin

The Mythological Effects of Venting

Over the last several years large-scale, organized pillow fights have been breaking out in cities around the globe - most notably those on World Pillow Fight Day. These events are obviously held in the spirit of good fun, but what about the commonly-held belief that venting aggression or other emotions brings about a sort of catharsis from such emotions? Is venting a healthy response to festering emotions?

In his book, The Science of Happiness, Stefan Klein doesn't seem to think so. Klein argues that emotion reactions establish themselves in the brain using the Hebbian Learning Rule.

Even if we're feeling huge anger or fear, it's to our advantage to bring our emotions under control. When we [do this], there's a two-fold effect on the brain. For one, we're less likely to react negatively to start with, because the connection between the stimulus and the emotional response to it is weakened. Second, we strengthen the ability to restrain such emotions, should they be released after all. ... Conscious control of the emotions has to be practiced. (p. 59)

This study, by Brad J. Bushman also seems to indicate that Catharsis theory really has no empirical foundation. Three groups were used to measure various responses to anger: Rumination (subjects spent time focusing on the person who made them angry), Distraction (subjects spent time distracting themselves from the person who made them angry), and the Control group (subjects waited in silence, doing nothing). Subjects in each group were also allowed to punch a punching bag for as long as they liked (venting).

They found that subjects who ruminated on the object of their anger actually showed increased levels of anger, while those who were distracted from the object of their anger, showed a decrease in anger. Also interesting is that those who were distracted from the object of their anger, but allowed to punch a punching bag while focusing on becoming physically fit, (distraction with venting) also showed an increase of anger. This seems to indicate that the mere act of aggressive behavior (punching the punching bag) increases anger without respect to the mental focus of the subject (be it on the object of anger or simply the goal of becoming physically fit).

-Taylor

Fajita Bean Soup

Made up a soup this afternoon that turned out to be fairly healthy and tasty. (And easy on the wallet.)

butter
1 or 2 package(s) of frozen peppers and onions thawed
1 or 2 can(s) of red beans
1 packet of fajita seasoning
4 or 5 cups of water
hot sauce, salt, pepper to taste
1/4 - 1/2 pint of half and half

Saute onions and peppers in butter on med heat 5 minutes.
Add beans and fajita seasoning, cook for a few minutes.
Add 4 or 5 cups of water and simmer for 30 minutes.
Check seasonings.
Take off heat and finish with half and half.

Seriously, this stuff is amazing. It's fairly cheap and healthy and makes at least 4 servings.