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Behind the prison bars lies a tragedy so absurd it seems fictional. Imagine a world where suicide attempts come with a bill, prisons are built on toxic waste dumps as if radiation were part of the sentence, and the government tells you that with a felony record you’re too dangerous to kill bugs professionally but could theoretically run the country. In “Seven Facts About Mass Incarceration That Sound Like April Fools’ Day Hoaxes, But Aren’t,” we journey through America’s justice system—a place where “inmate welfare funds” buy fitness trackers for guards, where the average pretrial detainee makes less annually than what’s required for bail, and where nearly half of all Americans have had an immediate family member incarcerated. Laugh to keep from crying as we explore a system so darkly comedic that reality has outdone satire. Because sometimes the cruelest jokes aren’t jokes at all—they’re policy.

Background and Significance #

While vocalization during pain (e.g., saying “ow” or screaming) has been studied and shown to potentially increase pain tolerance, the psychological mechanisms and efficacy of internal vocalization (subvocalization or “silent screaming”) during acute pain episodes remain largely unexplored. This represents a significant gap in our understanding of cognitive pain management strategies.

Previous research has established that subvocalization involves micro-movements of the larynx and speech organs that are typically imperceptible without specialized equipment. These internal speech processes have been extensively studied in reading contexts but rarely in pain management applications.

How does The Religious Case Against Belief (2008) compare with The Religious Case Against Belief (J. N. Pritikin, Trans.; 2nd ed.) (2025)?

Structure and Content #

• The second edition includes a new front matter section explaining the adaptation process
• Material is significantly reorganized, with content moved between chapters
• The Religion Beyond Belief and Coda chapters have been removed or relocated
• Overall word count reduced by 46%
• The second edition includes bibliography sections not in the original

Writing Style and Accessibility #

• Sentence structure: The second edition uses shorter, simpler sentences compared to the original’s longer, more complex constructions
• Vocabulary: Original uses more academic and specialized terminology; second edition employs more straightforward language
• Examples: Second edition includes more concrete, contemporary examples to illustrate abstract concepts
• Paragraph length: Original has longer paragraphs with multiple connected ideas; second edition breaks these into smaller, focused paragraphs
• Transitions: Second edition adds clearer transitional phrases to guide readers between concepts

Scholarly Apparatus and References #

• Citation style: Second edition uses numerical footnote references that link to a formal bibliography
• Source documentation: More extensive citations and references in the second edition
• Tables and visual elements: Second edition includes tables (like the attributes of a mature belief system)
• Academic conventions: Second edition follows more formal academic presentation conventions

Audience Considerations #

• Educational accessibility: Second edition is written at a high school rather than post-graduate reading level
• Religious audience: Second edition frames arguments in a way intended to be more respectful to religious readers
• Academic readers: Original appears more targeted toward scholarly/academic audience
• General public: Second edition attempts to make complex philosophical concepts more accessible to non-specialists

Content Organization and Development #

Structural Reformatting #

• Hierarchical organization: The original presents ideas in relatively undifferentiated prose blocks; the second edition implements a systematic hierarchical structure with numbered sections and subsections (e.g., chapters like Belief have explicit sections on Intensity, Faith, Formation of Belief Systems)
• Topic segmentation: Original flows between topics without clear transitions; second edition creates distinct sections with explicit headers (e.g., separate sections on Galileo’s Trial and Stepping Deeper into Ignorance)
• Logical progression: Second edition reorganizes material to create a more linear path through complex concepts, while the original has a more associative flow

The New Ignorance Chapter #

• Taxonomic approach: Creates a formal three-part taxonomy (ordinary, willful, and higher ignorance) that serves as a conceptual foundation
• Galileo reframing: Repositions the Galileo material as an exemplar of different types of ignorance rather than primarily as an example of belief conflict
• Conceptual scaffolding: Provides preparatory concepts that readers need before encountering the central arguments about belief
• Integration function: Connects historical examples to abstract philosophical concepts more systematically

Case Studies and Examples #

• Enhanced structure: Original presents the Martin Luther case study in an uninterrupted narrative; second edition breaks it into explicitly labeled sections like Luther’s Legacy
• Comparative examples: Second edition adds more structured comparative examples (like the parallel between religious and military language)
• Contemporary relevance: Second edition adds more explicit connections to modern issues (e.g., unlawful orders in military contexts, enhanced discussion of willful ignorance in politics)
• Visual distinction: Case studies are more clearly marked off from theoretical material in the second edition

Argumentative Architecture #

• Premise-conclusion structure: Second edition more explicitly marks the premises of arguments before presenting conclusions
• Counter-argument integration: More systematic presentation of objections and responses in the second edition
• Concept mapping: Second edition creates clearer relationships between related concepts through explicit signposting
• Summary elements: Addition of summative sections at chapter ends in the second edition

Conceptual Development and Focus #

Higher Ignorance Advancement #

• Conceptual primacy: In the original, higher ignorance is one important concept among many; in the second edition, it becomes the central organizing principle
• Definition expansion: Second edition provides a more detailed explanation of higher ignorance through extended examples
• Historical contextualization: Second edition connects higher ignorance to thinkers like Nicholas of Cusa more systematically
• Application range: Second edition shows more explicitly how higher ignorance applies across different religious traditions

Belief System Analysis #

• Formation process: Second edition adds a more detailed analysis of how belief systems form and develop (with a table of features like “Comprehensive Explanation,” “Ultimate Authority,” etc.)
• Psychological dimension: Enhanced discussion of the psychological factors that contribute to belief formation and maintenance
• Opposing functions: More systematic analysis of how belief systems define themselves against others
• Internal contradictions: More structured presentation of the contradictions inherent in belief systems

Religion-Belief Relationship #

• Boundary clarification: Second edition creates clearer distinctions between religion and the belief systems that form around them
• Identity preservation: More detailed discussion of how religions maintain their identity over millennia despite changing belief systems
• Community dynamics: Enhanced discussion of how religious communities function differently from belief-based communities
• Transcendence mechanism: More explicit explanation of how religion transcends the limitations of belief systems

Contemporary Applications #

• Modern relevance: Second edition draws more connections to contemporary religious and political conflicts
• Secularization analysis: More detailed discussion of how secular belief systems mimic religious structures
• Political religion: Enhanced analysis of how political ideologies function as pseudo-religions
• Media influence: New material on how information environments affect belief formation

Interdisciplinary Integration #

• Psychological integration: Second edition more explicitly incorporates concepts from psychology (like locus of control)
• Sociological framing: Enhanced discussion of how belief systems function socially
• Historical contextualization: More systematic use of historical examples to illustrate theoretical points
• Linguistic analysis: More detailed discussion of religious language and how it functions differently from belief statements

Practical Implications #

• Applied ethics: Second edition draws more explicit ethical implications from the theoretical framework
• Dialogical practice: More detailed suggestions for how to engage with beliefs differently
• Cultural navigation: Enhanced discussion of how to engage with various belief systems productively
• Self-examination: More explicit invitation for readers to examine their own belief systems critically

Introduction #

Becky Kennedy’s approach to parenting has resonated with countless families seeking connection-based strategies that honor both parent authority and children’s emotional experiences. Her book presents a thoughtful framework centered on seeing children as “good inside” while offering practical strategies for common parenting challenges. However, when viewed through the lens of Patty Wipfler’s Hand in Hand Parenting, several significant limitations emerge in Kennedy’s methodology that merit careful examination.

Kennedy’s work has gained particular traction within the Internal Family Systems (IFS) community due to her innovative application of IFS concepts to everyday parenting challenges. Her framework extends Richard Schwartz’s pioneering model into parenting, discussing how parents can recognize and respond to different parts of their children’s emotional experiences. This adaptation of IFS principles to parenting has earned Kennedy significant recognition, including a formal endorsement from Schwartz himself, who praised her ability to translate complex therapeutic concepts into accessible parenting strategies.

The judge’s approach to religious sincerity in the Jensen case provides a practical example that aligns with Carse’s understanding of religion.

The Judge’s Determination of Religious Sincerity #

In the court document, the judge states: “At the hearing, Plaintiffs presented the testimony of several witnesses to establish the sincerity of their religion. The court found the witnesses credible and ruled that Plaintiffs had shown a likelihood of success on their claim under the Utah RFRA.”

For decades, physicists have explored the idea that consciousness causes the collapse of the wavefunction— the moment quantum particles cease being in strange superpositions of states. Esteemed anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff, following his collaboration with Roger Penrose, proposes a different story: consciousness is the collapse itself. Hameroff discusses compelling experimental evidence suggesting the process occurs within microtubules in the brain. He also explores the non-computable nature of consciousness, the connections between his research and his spirituality, as well as insights into his research relating to psychedelics.

James Carse’s The Religious Case Against Belief might seem unrelated to parenting. But its exploration of belief systems, higher ignorance, and connection offers powerful insights for understanding Hand in Hand Parenting. This approach to raising children emphasizes emotional connection, listening, and working through difficult feelings together rather than imposing rigid rules or control.

The Dangers of Rigid Belief Systems #

Carse offers a detailed analysis of belief systems. These systems resist change and thrive on opposition. Similarly, parenting approaches that rely on unchangeable rules and punishments create boundaries that limit connection. When parents cling to inflexible ideas about how children should behave, they risk turning the parent-child relationship in a battleground.

James Carse’s The Religious Case Against Belief provides a fascinating framework for analyzing political rhetoric, particularly that of Donald Trump’s recent address to Congress. While Carse focuses on religious contexts, his insights about belief systems, boundaries, and poetic authority offer valuable tools for understanding Trump’s speech and the political moment it represents.

Boundaries #

Trump’s address exemplifies what Carse would recognize as a mature belief system. It creates clear boundaries between supporters and opponents, establishes Trump as the ultimate authority, and provides a comprehensive explanation of America’s problems and their solutions.

The Professor and the Engineer #

On a rainy Tuesday afternoon in early March, I found myself hunched over not one but two versions of James P. Carse’s philosophical masterpiece, The Religious Case Against Belief. The first—dog-eared and coffee-stained—was Carse’s original 2008 publication. The second—pristine and unauthorized—was a dramatically condensed edition that has been stirring controversy in religious and publishing circles alike.

The unauthorized second edition, prepared by software engineer and religious studies enthusiast Joshua Pritikin, has been described as both “literary vandalism” and “an act of spiritual generosity,” depending on whom you ask. Released without Penguin Random House’s permission, it reduces Carse’s dense philosophical prose by nearly half. Entire chapters have vanished. Technical passages have been recast in simpler language.

“Teddy, why is the sky blue?” Three-year-old Mira looked up at her plush companion, a bear with soft amber eyes that seemed to follow her wherever she went.

The bear’s eyes flickered momentarily with a subtle glow. “The sky is blue because tiny fairies paint it every morning,” Teddy replied in a warm, gentle voice. “They use special brushes made from cloud-fluff.”

Mira giggled, hugging Teddy close. “That’s silly!”

“Oh? What do you think makes the sky blue, then?” Teddy asked, his head tilting slightly.