(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) Dunbar’s insights into total friendship group size (150 total) and social fingerprint (a distinct pattern for slots for friends down the friendship scale) has implications evangelism and what we should expect from new converts. If we divide people into groups … Continue reading How friendship group size and health affects conversion →

(The outline of McGilchrist’s thesis is here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/11/07/introduction-to-the-master-and-his-emissary/) McGilchrist presents hundreds of studies to support his thesis of the divided brain. https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/11/18/dpes-mcgilchrist-provide-good-scientific-evidence-for-the-thesis-in-the-master-and-his-emissary/ But other scientists have raised questions and objections, especially on the discussion here: Full article: Engaging Iain McGilchrist: Ascetical practice, brain lateralization, and philosophy of mind (tandfonline.com) Bottom up or top down? A number … Continue reading Questioning the evidence →

(The outline of McGilchrist's thesis is here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/11/07/introduction-to-the-master-and-his-emissary/) McGilchrist has spent several decades reading the neuroscience literature, and he presents lots of studies to back up his thesis that the two hemispheres (half brains) process the world differently. I’m obviously not in a position to fully evaluate his scientific evidence. McGilchrist spends about 60 pages … Continue reading Does McGilchrist provide good scientific evidence for the thesis in The Master and his Emissary? →

I’ve been a church elder for 13 years, a staff elder (assistant and then lead) for 12 years. In that time there have been all sorts of criticisms. Some very specific feedback on particular aspects of how things are done or what I have. Some generalised to “Christianity” or “Evangelicalism”? There have been lots of … Continue reading Dealing with critical feedback of church and Christianity →

(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) Dunbar notes that here is a strong finding that friendship with non-family members falls away sharply when people move to live more than 30 minutes away. What distance this is depends on what form of transport you are using. If … Continue reading Distance and friendship →

One of the big books I read over the Sabbatical was Iain McGilChrist’s “The Master and his emissary”, along with an interdisciplinary academic discussion of his work and its implications for religion Religion, Brain & Behavior: Vol 9, No 4 (tandfonline.com) The subtitle of the book is “The Divided Brain and the Making of the … Continue reading Introduction to The Master and his Emissary →

(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) Our age is one that proclaims the value of diversity, and yet people often end up with friends who share a lot in common with them. This is a general and well established human tendency. You become friends with people … Continue reading The importance of friends having something in common →

(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) Robin Dunbar's definition of friendship is primarily focused on usefulness- the people who would help each other without immediate reciprocation. https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/24/the-definition-and-value-of-friendship/ C.S.Lewis in “The Four Loves” speaks of friendship that arises from a shared interest or vision of the world. … Continue reading Friendship- Dunbar vs Lewis →

(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) Because of the fallenness of all humanity, there is an ongoing risk of people misusing their power and mistreating others. Whether it is physical or sexual abuse, financial exploitation, or emotional manipulation, everyone is potentially vulnerable to mistreatment, including by … Continue reading Friendships and protection from abuse →

(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) Robin Dunbar’s early work was on monkeys, who literally spend time grooming each other to build and sustain friendship. But this form of bonding limits the size of the group that can be connected. Humans have ways of connecting which … Continue reading How we “bond” each other without touching →