The holidays have become too loud, and all the noise is drowning out what Christmas was meant to celebrate. Perhaps quiet can put things back into perspective.

Two biologists propose that the presence or absence of parasites in our environment exerts a strong top-down influence on the extent to which we have historically developed family ties and even religion. Surely it’s not the whole picture — I sure hope we’re more complicated than that — but could it be part of the picture?

Many interviewers have seemed uncomfortable with the Ted Williams story, and in particular his not very politically correct assertions about character deficiencies and shame. Personally, I am inspired.

Peace comes not by imposing our wills or asserting the correctness of our ways and beliefs over others, but by reckoning with our own hearts.

I lament the fall of the once mighty myth. Myth is about so much more than a non-factual story or colloquialisms about erroneous beliefs. We need myths to help articulate powerful truths about ourselves and the world in which we live.

Druids, Norse, Christians: it’s been universal for us over the centuries to have concocted various ceremonial activities and festivals to coincide with major astronomic events.

What makes the “Holy Land” holy? Only righteous behavior by its occupants can ever sanctify this or any other land. Will the leaders of two peoples display a level of righteousness that can put an end to years of conflict?