“Fiction seems to be more effective at changing beliefs than nonfiction, which is designed to persuade through argument and evidence. Studies show that when we read nonfiction, we read with our shields up. We are critical and skeptical. But when we are absorbed in a story, we drop our intellectual guard. We are moved emotionally, and this seems to make us rubbery and easy to shape.” StoriesShowsSeemsBeliefEasyFictionStudyShapesIntellectualEvidenceArgumentMovedCriticalNonfictionSkepticalShields Author:Jonathan Gottschall
“In more than 20 years I've spent studying the issue, I have yet to hear a convincing argument that college football has anything do with what is presumably the primary purpose of higher education: academics.” YearsPurposeStudyIssuesFootballCollegeHigherArgumentPrimariesConvincingHigher EducationCollege Football Author:Buzz Bissinger
“Until recently we’ve only been able to speculate about story's persuasive effects. But over the last several decades psychology has begun a serious study of how story affects the human mind. Results repeatedly show that our attitudes, fears, hopes, and values are strongly influenced by story. In fact, fiction seems to be more effective at changing beliefs than writing that is specifically designed to persuade through argument and evidence.” WritingMindHumansFactsStoriesShowsSeemsAbleLastsValuesBeliefResultsAttitudeFictionStudyPsychologyEffectsSeriousEvidenceArgumentDecadesHuman MindPersuasive Author:Jonathan Gottschall
“Academical disputation gives vigor and briskness to the mind thus exercised, and relieves the languor of private study and meditation.” GivingMindStudyMeditationArgumentVigor Book:The Beauties of the Late Rev. Dr. Isaac Watts Source: The Beauties of the Late Rev. Dr. Isaac Watts
“Theology is a non-subject. I'm not saying that professors of theology are non-professors. They do interesting things, like study biblical history, biblical literature. But theology, the study of gods, the study of what gods do, presupposes that gods exist. The only kind of theology that I take account of are those theological arguments that actually argue for the existence of God.” KindLiteratureInterestingExistenceStudySubjectsArgumentAccountsArguingTheologyProfessorsBiblicalInteresting ThingsTheologicalGod ExistsExistence Of God Author:Richard Dawkins
“Old texts, myths, and religions have always fascinated me, though I prefer learning about them to writing papers and trying to make thoughts and arguments regarding their effect or meaning - this being the essence of my time in religious studies.” WritingTryingReligiousStudyEffectsPaperArgumentEssenceMythMy TimeFascinatedPapersReligious Studies Author:Tom Shields
“According to a new study, 63% of men surveyed said they like to settle an argument by having sex. The other 37% of the men said they would never want to get into an argument with those men.” MenWantSaidSexStudyHe ManArgumentSettlingHaving Sex Author:Jay Leno
“Study hard. Understand not only the questions, but the questioner. Know how best to articulate the answers, but do it with humility, because ultimately the answer is in a person, the person of Christ, not in an argument. So, do your work and know how to present the answer, but do it with gentleness and meekness.” KnowsPersonsHardChristAnswersKnow HowStudyHumilityArgumentGentlenessMeekness Author:Ravi Zacharias
“Pharisaism became Talmudism...But the spirit of the Ancient Pharisee survives unaltered. When the Jew...studies the Talmud, he is actually repeating the arguments used in the Palestinian academies. From Palestine to Babylonia; from Babylonia to North Africa, Italy, Spain, France and Germany; from these to Poland, Russia and eastern Europe generally, ancient Pharisaism has wandered.” UsedSpiritStudyEuropeArgumentAncientJewRussiaFranceGermanyPalestinianEasternPalestineSpainAcademyPolandEastern EuropePhariseesNorth AfricaPharisaism Author:Louis Finkelstein
“Interpretations of Muslim assimilation have gravitated between two arguments: that Muslims will remain as permanent outsiders or that Muslims will blend in with little difficulty at all. Mucahit Bilici demonstrates how wanting these arguments are. Finding Mecca in America takes us into the uncharted territory of what it is actually like to be Muslim immigrants in the United States. I am especially impressed by the study's theoretical depth and empirical insights.” LittlesTwoStatesAmericaUnitedUnited StatesStudyFindingsArgumentDifficultyDepthInsightPermanentImmigrantsInterpretationTerritoryOutsidersImpressedTheoreticalAssimilationMeccaUnchartedUncharted Territory Author:Robert Wuthnow