Understanding Evangelicals?

*Though this is not something I would typically post in a (theoretically) public forum, this article really struck a chord with me.  And I'm learning that part of being an anthropologist is really taking the time to tease out what's going on at the heart of important issues like this.  I hope that this dialogue gets somewhere, because constant miscommunication and unquestioned prejudice is at the root of so many conflicts like this one*


Do As I Do, Not As I Say?

I want to buy this theory. It's nice and neat and actually very much in line with the thinking behind my liberal ideals, though of course I can't speak for anyone else (though apparently, some people can!)  When push comes to shove, thpugh, I feel like if this were the dynamic underlying the behavior of most Evangelicals we wouldn't be in the middle of the us-vs-them shitstorm we're obviously battling. I can't wrap my brain around the theory that people can be working as hard as the author describes to be better, kinder, more godly...and yet repeatedly work against measures that seek to help those who are not in a position to help themselves. Please, if you are in a position to help me understand this, do so!  When I read this blog, I couldn't help but hear the sentiment that secular liberals are looking to take the easy way out, while Evangelical Christians are working their asses off to do what's right.  And maybe I'm just grumpy because I *am* one of those secular liberals and I'm feeling defensive and like I am being underestimated, but if it's not just me and we ARE looked upon that way for a reason,  maybe something needs to be done to change that. I KNOW that when I choose to do my part to help those around me, I am not choosing the easy way out.  I am not choosing complacency. I am choosing compassion and forethought and a commitment to work toward a greater good...which is EXACTLY what this author is suggesting that Evangelicals are doing, no?

In any case, if there's even a chance for this perspective to get more of us across the divide and working together, I want in on that.  Let's have this conversation.

Unpacking Biocultural Anthropology

This is why I love Anthropology.  It's not something specific to see-it's a WAY of seeing- so it gets to encompass SO MUCH. So much information.  So many methodologies.  So many perspectives.  When I am reminded of what Anthropology can be, I'm surprised that I ever even considered diving into anything else. Here are some eloquent and worthwhile musings on Biocultural Anth from some of the main voices helping to bring anthropological understanding to a wider audience.  I'm grateful to have them to guide me.

Kate Clancy- I Can Out-Interdiscipline You
 http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/context-and-variation/2012/05/01/biocultural-approach/

Daniel Lende's Response @ Neuroanthropology
http://blogs.plos.org/neuroanthropology/2012/05/03/on-biocultural-anthropology/

So much of this resounds with me, but it's too much to articulate right now.  Frankly I'm a little bit completely and utterly intimidated by the ease with which these folks are conversing about such a complex topic. I haven't really sat down to figure out what "biocultural" means to me except that I know that it truly RESPECTS both perspectives equally (something that happens much less frequently than I'd like). I guess in that way I think of it as more of a philosophical standpoint (and, honestly, almost an ethical obligation from where I sit, though that might be just a touch melodramatic) than a particular way of doing science.  I know that's nowhere near enough yet, but I need loads more time time to dig deeper.

 Coming to the debate from outside of Anthro, I don't associate myself with either side in particular.  I like the IDEA of being a biological anthropologist, because I'm intrinsically more comfortable with things that are decisive and easily analyzed, but at the same time I know that there's a hell of a lot going on in my thought process that has nothing to do with pure, hard science. The degree to which any of this matters to me professionally remains to be seen, as the MS program requires coursework that is very clearly defined within one discipline or another for the most part...or at least touches on both in a way that is readily deciphered.  Regardless, though, I WANT to be thinking about this, talking about this, figuring out where I fit into this, even at this early stage in my career.

A two-cup-of-coffee morning

So for most of the past year I've been doing this super lame thing where I switch to decaf after my first cup of coffee in the morning, to avoid agita* and jitteriness and a whole slew of other fun symptoms that have managed to creep up on me lately.  The unfortunate downside to this (besides the fact that decaffeinated coffee is just fundamentally very, very disappointing) is that my creative energy  has kind of nosedived.*  Whatever.  It's a trade off and I suppose right now it's more important to be just getting through the day to day stuff. The thing is, though, that I spent the weekend with people who are all about putting themselves out there in exactly the way I haven't been.  Plus I just watched a rather inspiring video (The Mindful Music Therapist: Sharing an excellent TED Talk with you) that's gotten up under my breastbone and all this together is seriously making me antsy to mess around in the abyss. And a strange quirk of my personality is that I can't really go exploring without a cup of coffee in my hand. So anyway, the point is that I've gone through two cups so far and I'm being reckless and going for a third, then I'm gonna go live me some questions.

* I am seriously disappointed in Blogger for not recognizing the word agita.
**I read somewhere a long time ago that a blocked or sluggish solar plexus chakra is correlated with  blocked creativity, low self-confidence, and a craving for stimulants. I don't much by into such metaphysics these days, but I do find the connection interesting to ponder...

Thoughts?  What does your creative process look like? When it's not working, what's gone wrong?

I found an apartment!

So yesterday Mom, Randi, Rita and I packed into Supertramp (My car.  I'm sorry.) and headed up to Binghamton to find me a place to live.  We got on the road about 45 minutes late but as it turns out there was some miscommunication regarding my first meeting and we ended up with an hour to kill anyway. We had lunch at a little dive bar...reasonable tasty food and friendly staff (all two of them) though I can't shake the feeling that the cook was a bit put out at having to get us our lunch.  I got the impression that noon on a Saturday is not a busy time for them.  Regardless, it was a perfectly reasonable meal and was cheap enough for me to treat without getting buyer's remorse.

The first two places we looked at were owned by the same guy, so his property manager just went to both of them with me and we were onto the next place after about a half hour.  After that I looked at a place that in a previous incarnation had been a hotel- it sounded really cool on paper, but it ended up kinda giving me the heebie-jeebies.  I liked some aspects of it- there were TONS of book/knickknack shelves along all the walls and there was a really cute little dining nook that was kinda hidden behind a wall. The major downside was the poor lighting (I was there at 2pm and it might as well have been midnight) and the odd boarding house feel- residents inhabit the same space, but I don't get the impression that they live as a cohesive unit at all.  I'm not expecting to sing kumbaya around the kitchen table or anything, but I do want to feel secure in the knowledge that my roommates are not harboring fugitives or keeping dead bodies under their beds without my knowledge.  It sucks, though, because the landlady was really nice and in some was I think that place would've been an interesting experience...but it's just way too gremlin-friendly.

I ended up going with the second place I looked at.  It's a five bedroom (4 other grad students and 1 senior, 3 guys and 1 other girl) in a quiet residential area.  It's got a little porch and a claw foot tub and apparently they're going to be renovating the kitchen (and my all time favorite...wood paneling.  Sorry again.), so I'm pretty excited about the whole deal.  The landlord seems very engaged and responsive, and the property manager I met is the same.  I'll be signing a June lease but it doesn't look like I was gonna have all that much choice on that front if I wanted to live someplace decent.  All together the day went exactly as I hoped it would.  We even stopped for dinner at a great steak and seafood place in the Poconos where I had a friggin' amazing lobster roll, AND I managed to be in bed by 10:30.  Let's just hope all the other logistical fun goes as well as this did.