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Posts tagged with the category Scott Kiser
The Search for a Unifying Vision to Save Our Lost Culture
Yesterday I was speaking with a colleague at the college where I teach, a sociology instructor, who asked me this question: “Why doesn’t our society teach people how to be happy?” Implicit within this question, which became more explicit in our brief conversation, was a shared concern regarding our cultural values, focusing particularly on the...
Dying to Live: An Existential Interpretation of Easter
As Easter approaches I find myself reflecting on the meaning of this holiday for our contemporary American culture, as well as how it may meaningfully intersect with the existentialist framework. Perhaps what should be acknowledged immediately is the basic fact that Easter is deeply embedded within the cultural fabric of our society as a national...
Survive or Thrive: Living within the Cultural Assault on Intentionality
Simply stated, it is difficult to live intentionally in our frenzied, fast-paced, entertainment-driven culture. This is neither a wise statement nor a shocking revelation. Most of us are aware of this frustrating truth to some extent, whether it is perceived as deeply disturbing or as a relatively minor annoyance. However it is experienced, it is...
The Rebirth of Reality: An Existential Interpretation of Christmas
In the midst of holiday busyness, shopping, event planning, and family drama I wonder if many of us seriously consider the essential question that is always there underneath the frantic rush for parking spaces and torn wrapping paper…What is Christmas really all about? Given the current state of our American culture, I believe it is quite...
Giving Thanks for our Suffering: An Existential Interpretation of Thanksgiving
At this time of year I wonder how many Americans reflect very deeply, if at all, about the meaning of Thanksgiving.
Of course, as a national holiday most of us likely have at least a vague understanding of it as a commemoration of the meal shared between the pilgrims and Native Americans. Beyond this, I’m sure that for many it provides a...
United as Victims: Facing the Present Crisis of Irresponsibility in American Culture
At the risk of sounding melodramatic and extremist, I want to suggest that our culture is currently facing a crisis of epidemic proportions regarding the extent to which personal responsibility has been exiled from our identity and character.
America is not, on the whole, a nation of responsible individuals; America is predominantly a nation of...
Confessions of a Lapsed Existentialist: The Dilemma of Being a Stranger in your own Life
As an existentialist I have a little problem in my life right now. The search for and experience of authentic self-identity and self-actualization are core existential values; those of us who embrace this tradition care deeply about becoming and being the individual human beings who we truly are and are meant to be. “Looking within,”...
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