Birth control and abortion debates haven't always looked the way they do today

Here is a fascinating article about the history of birth control in the US. Apparently it used to be illegal to give out information on birth control- it was considered an obscenity. Birth control advocates got caught up in debates with eugenics advocates. Churches have sometimes promoted it, sometimes rejected it.

"I think a lot of [how issues like birth control and abortion became partisan] comes from moral posturing around this issue. I think we would do better if we could have these conversations outside of a partisan arena where there is far too much to gain by making these issues partisan," she says. "You can track over American history how much people have gained by staking out these partisan positions, and I think it's a real tragedy."

Why a Philosophy Job Search is Like Dating

In philosophy, when you've finished your dissertation (or are close to doing so), you get to go on the job market. I didn't actually expect this to be too stressful, because I don't mind doing applications and administrative kinds of things generally, and putting my dossier together hasn't actually been all that bad. Asking people for letters makes me uncomfortable, though promoting my research and teaching ability on paper doesn't bother me. What does end up being stressful is the way your whole mentality changes. An adviser once explained to me that thinking about the job search will take over all of your spare thoughts, to the point that it's what's on your mind when you're in the shower. And he was more or less right about how consuming it can get.

What I think is the hardest part of the job search, however, is how it's like dating: what you want is to find someone who appreciates you for who you really are, and a relationship you can start building for the long-term, knowing you belong.

What you get, instead, is a lot of impersonal ads that you scan, wondering whether you'd be compatible (Christian institution seeks associate professor of philosophy with interests in ethics and political philosophy to contribute meaningfully to school mission, enjoys deep conversation and long walks on the beach). Then you picture yourself at each school and write a letter trying to communicate your vision of how you could contribute to the department and institution (not really like using a pick-up line at all, except in that you have to start somewhere), and then you wait to see if anyone will give you a chance at a date. Since I'm still at the pick-up line stage, I don't really know how it goes after that, but I'm sure I'll give it some thought next time I shower.

Trying Not to Speak Christianese

This isn't a real post. It's mostly just me giving you a link to Addie Zierman's blog; she's creating an annotated glossary of Christianese, "How to Speak Evangelical." I'm enjoying it so far. My current series of posts has been about a bunch of Christian cliches connected to somewhat sketchy spiritual techniques- "Finding God's Will," "Giving God Control," "Not Splitting Head From Heart," and so on. Actually, I haven't written the post on the last one yet, but think about it- what kind of an odd phrase is that? It's Christianese- an example of language Christians (especially Evangelical Christians in America) use casually, but which can be pretty obtuse for someone who's not steeped in Christianity.

Actually, it's quite normal for people who associate over a specific, common cause or issue to develop some jargon. (I wasted some time last night exploring some of the WWF jargon on wikipedia, for instance.) But if part of the purpose of your association is to reach out and connect with others, then jargon isn't going to help. I've heard it said that "The Christian Church is the only organization on earth that exists soley for the purpose of those who are not yet members of it." (A quote from the late archbishop of Cantebury, Dr. Michael Ramsey, apparently.) So I'm liking Addie's blog, because I think Christians should be very careful about this sort of thing.