Feature Article of Saturday, 15 February 2014

Columnist: Kwarteng, Francis

Well, what we know is not what they tell us; were not ignorant, I meant itWe refuse to be what you wanted us to be. We are what we are. Thats the way its going to be, if you dont know. You cant educate I (Bob Marley, Babylon System).

Among some of the autobiographical details we have so far revealed about Dr. Ama Mazama includes the fact she is a well-respected student, well-rounded researcher, as well as a distinguished professor of comparative (African) linguistics (continental and diasporic), religion, politics, literature, history, and cultural criticism, among others. Also, like Asante, Maulana, Diop, or Obenga, she is grounded in political economy. In addition, her intellectual rootedness in political economy and depth of appreciation of the African world put her squarely in the creative empire of activist scholarship and of intellectual prolificacy, making her one of the most formidable and leading theoreticians of Afrocentricity in Western academia, particularly in the American academy.

Afrocentric theory is not merely a theory dealing with history, epistemology, language, economics, culture, politics, and the like. And as we have eloquently and consistently shown, its a creative embodiment of a constellation of progressive ideas, of social and political activism, with a particular focus on the African world in which she prioritizes her interests above others. Namely, Afrocentricity represents the body and soul of Africas cultural psychology and humanity. Yet again, its a concept with heavy intellectual and research investment in theory and praxis. We may even push the analytic button further and say on authority that praxis probably represents one of the transformative instruments which distinguishes one society from the other. That is, relatively successful societies from relatively unsuccessful ones, or, more qualitatively, one thinker from the other.

Technically, we are arguing that analytic verbiage or fustian posturing, a methodological style devoid of activist and intellectual substance, is not a character trait of the process of Afrocentric theorizing. Importantly, one of Mazamas and Asantes remarkable contributions to knowledge production on the African world appears in the form of their edited volume The Encyclopedia of African Religion. The Library Journal says of the Encyclopedia: Numerous titles focusing on particular beliefs in Africa exist, including Marcel Griaules conversation with Ogotemmeli, but this one presents an unparalleled exploration of a multiple of cultures and experiences. Its both a gateway to deeper and a penetrating resource on its own. This is bound to become the definitive scholarly resource on African Religions. Indeed this is a landmark contribution to cultural scholarship on the African world!

In fact, the Encyclopedia beats every single academic work on African Religion before or after by its unparalleled breadth and sheer weight of cultural, historical, epistemological, and cosmogonic analyses. However, its overriding achievement is seen in its epistemological success when Afrocentricity jilts Eurocentric interpretation of African culture at the altar of cultural fairness. On the other hand, Kwame Anthony Appiah has taken issue with Marcel Griaules methodological dialogue with Ogotemmeli, a respected and knowledgeable storehouse of Dogon Religion (See Griaules Conversations with Ogotemmeli and The Pale Fox). On another philosophical plane, we have not yet fathomed a suitable justification for Appiahs overweening orientation, whether he actually sees himself a better anthropologist or ethnologist than the acclaimed and meticulous Marcel Griaule and his student Germaine Dieterlen, whether he actually thinks he knows more than Ogotemmeli, or whether he has philosophical problems with Griaules and Germaines methodological approach.

But that is beside the point. Lets attempt an evaluation of the influence of the Encyclopedia from another critical angle. Still, before we do so, lets remind ourselves as we have consistently and controversially argued elsewhere, that our newly-proposed educational institutions, to wit, Afrocentric education, need to explore the question of spirituality, African spirituality, in the main, as part of the new pedagogy of moral conscientization. Admittedly, this must, however, be done within a larger contextual framework of religious tolerance. Again, this is why Asantes and Mazamas edited volume The Encyclopedia of African Religion is such a significant work. This creative work also ushers in the academization of African Religion as a formidable area of academic research and study in the fields of cultural studies, moral philosophy, and comparative religion.

Meanwhile, elements of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, properly called Book of Coming Forth by Day, Maulana Karengas Maat, The Moral Ideal in Ancient Egypt: A Study in Classical African Ethics, as well as other issues raised by him through Odu Ifa: The Ethical Teachings, Afolabi Epegas The Sacred Ifa Oracle, etc., and several important religious ideas from ancient Africa made it to the Encyclopedia. The African roots of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as well as the cultural spread of African religion outside Africa to the Western Hemisphere see the light of day in the Encyclopedia. Its proper at this juncture to revisit one of the monumental episodes in the history of human civilization, when Molefi Kete Asante reminded participants at the Decolonizing Our Universities international conference, held in 2011, Malaysia, and attended by researchers, scientists, policy makers, authors, academics, and educators from around the world, that Asia, very much like the West, looked down upon African Religion.

Apparently, Asantes indicting rhetoric had come against the backdrop of Asias flagrant exclusion of African Religion from brochures advertizing worlds religions, as he toured a few places in Asia. We should add that this Asian intellectual contradiction shares an ironic confluence with Western abnegation of Hindu as a religion at the height of colonialism. The Nineteenth century was the era of European imperialism, writes David Frawley, adding: Many Europeans did in fact believe that they belonged to a superior race and that their religion, Christianity, was a superior religion and all other religions were barbaric, particularly a religion like Hinduism which uses many idols (See The Aryan-Dravidian Controversy). Yes, the polytheistic pigmentation of Hinduism compelled Europe to discard it as a religion in the classic Eurocentric sense of religion. Alternatively, many European scholars did not consider Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism religions either, believing that Buddhism lacked a centralized deity as the Yahweh and Christ of Judaism and Christianity, respectively.

View original post here:
The Important Factor Of Cultural Indigenization

Author Kerry Schafer - Book signing of the local authors new fantasy novel, Wakeworld. The story tells of two powerful people, each convinced that they are the last of their magical kind. Today, 1-3 p.m., Aunties Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509)838-0206.

UbuWeb: What Is It? - Gonzaga Universitys Visiting Scholars Lecture Series presents Kenneth Goldsmith, author, conceptual artist, and the Museum of Modern Arts first poet laureate for a lecture at 1:10 p.m. in the Jundt Art Center, Room 110. His book Seven American Deaths and Disasters creates prose poems that encapsulates

You have viewed 20 free articles or blogs allowed within a 30-day period. FREE registration is now required for uninterrupted access.

S-R Media, The Spokesman-Review and Spokesman.com are happy to assist you. Contact Customer Service by email or call 800-338-8801

Author Kerry Schafer - Book signing of the local authors new fantasy novel, Wakeworld. The story tells of two powerful people, each convinced that they are the last of their magical kind. Today, 1-3 p.m., Aunties Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509)838-0206.

UbuWeb: What Is It? - Gonzaga Universitys Visiting Scholars Lecture Series presents Kenneth Goldsmith, author, conceptual artist, and the Museum of Modern Arts first poet laureate for a lecture at 1:10 p.m. in the Jundt Art Center, Room 110. His book Seven American Deaths and Disasters creates prose poems that encapsulates seven major moments in recent U.S. history. At 7 p.m., he will read poetry from his book in the Jepson Centers Wolff Auditorium. Monday, Gonzaga University, 502 E. Boone Ave. Free. (509)313-6681.

Early Books That Changed How We See the World - The exhibit features rare books which date from 1493 to 1913, and represent key moments in scientific history. During February, hours are Tuesdays, 1-8 p.m.; Wednesdays, Fridays-Saturdays, 1-6 p.m.; and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sundays-Mondays. Downtown Library, Northwest Room, second floor, 906 W. Main Ave. (509)444-5338.

Aunties Morning Book Group - Discussion of Quiet by Susan Cain. Tuesday, 11 a.m., Aunties Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509)838-0206.

The Heart of Spirituality: Book Discussion Series - The six-part series continues with When Bad Things Happen to Good People, by Harold Kushner. Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. Free. (509)444-5386.

Aunties Evening Book Group - Discussion of Mr. Penumbras 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. Tuesday, 7 p.m., Aunties Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509)838-0206.

Continue reading here:
Literary calendar - Sun, 09 Feb 2014 PST

Park Ridge, IL (PRWEB) February 06, 2014

Health and spiritual resource, Far Eastern Fitness, today announced the nomination of Frank Huguenards recent documentary "Beyond Reason" for a Peoples Choice Award by Culture Unpluggeds Spirit Enlightened Film Festival. The film focuses on contradictions within modern scientific methods and how human intellect often becomes a stumbling block on the road to knowledge.

Huguenards work serves as an inspiration and supplement to the mission of Far Eastern Fitness. His series of films Beyond Me, Beyond Belief, and Beyond Reason explore various themes tied to his goal of promoting awareness and understanding, and helping others better themselves by nurturing and cultivating their own consciousness.

The first film in the trilogy, Beyond Me is focused on the link between animal instinct and human personalities and provides a simple, empowering solution for ending human suffering and misery. Beyond Belief breaks down certain traditions and beliefs and challenges us to question the authenticity and lineage they assert. The fourth installment, Beyond Thought, expected to be released in late 2014, will examine the origin of human thoughts, the relationship between thoughts, consciousness and the human brain and why we observe recurring and unwanted thought patterns in our lives. Huguenards previous work has garnered a Peoples Choice Award in the Spirited Enlightenment Networks 2012 Film Festival.

As an organization dedicated to bringing enlightenment to the lives of others through yogic arts, self-healing practices, and spiritual teaching, Far Eastern Fitness has a vision that closely coincides with the message of Huguenards groundbreaking documentary series.

Frank enriches our lives with the Yoga of knowledge, said Far Eastern Fitness founder, Anthony Castelluccio. Hes produced a trilogy of captivating films that really speak to the human experience on a deeply spiritual level. Were thrilled hes being recognized for his groundbreaking work.

Beyond Reason is now viewable along with more information on Huguenard and his visionary films at the Beyond Me Films website http://www.beyondmefilm.com/.

About Far Eastern Fitness

Far Eastern Fitness is an all-encompassing resource for healthy and spiritual living. The organization has assembled the worlds finest instructors of the yogic arts to add spirituality to lives and teach self-healing. Far Eastern Fitness has harnessed this unique expertise to produce several educational tools, including a recently released DVD and interactive e-book both designed to promote inner peace and outer joy. Part of every purchase will be donated to the One Drop water project, an organization that works to ensure that everyone has access to clean water.

For more information, please visit http://www.guruve.us, or email fef(at)comcast(dot)net.

Here is the original post:
Far Eastern Fitness Announces Award Nomination of Frank Huguenard Documentary, Beyond Reason

Feature Article of Wednesday, 5 February 2014

Columnist: Kwarteng, Francis

Clearly, scholars as well as well-informed lay proponents of sociology of knowledge, Afrocentric theory, and relativism have long discredited or disallowed intromission of cultural and epistemological universals into their systematized enterprise of scientific hypothesizing and theorizing. However we may want to put it, even Eurocentrism vigorously rejects any formalized epistemological imputation to relativism except, perhaps, its self-promotional investiture in the emotional realm of carefully-crafted perspectival, if universalist, exclusivism, sort of taking a steep psychocultural dive into an ideological ocean of epistemological and cultural universalism. Importantly, Eurocentrism mischievously ingratiates itself into human consciousness as though it represents an ideological heliocentrism of collective human wisdom as well as the pinnacle of cultural and intellectual excellence. In fact, the analytic weight of historical facts doesnt always angle these self-serving epistemological attributes toward the cultural West.

Quite often, as is the case with white supremacy, Eurocentrism, on the other hand, essentially embraces positivism, if we may arguably put it at that, while, on the other hand, keeps intuitive and introspective knowledge at investigational arms length. Yet these forms of knowledge may assume the same cultural plinth of intellectual affirmation as the evidence of empiricism and rationalism. Alternatively, we hold the opinion that, in theory, intuitive and introspective knowledge, strictly evaluated from an African perspective, does not, of necessity, subscribe to the imperial majesty of Eurocentric scientism. Meanwhile, the epistemological heuristics we are wont to employ here affords us an explanatory vista across the ideological lane dividers sandwiched between Eurocentrism and Afrocentricity, and, by extrapolation, finds a locational contrast in two major works, Dr. Molefi Kete Asantes The Afrocentric Idea and Dr. Antonio Damasios Looking for Spinoza: Joy, Sorrow, and the Feeling Brain.

The former, Dr. Asante, seeks an ontological understanding of the layered constitution of humanity, material and nonmaterial, especially the latter, an analytic task evaluated purely from an African perspective, Afrocentricity, that is, while, the latter, Dr. Damasio, explores similar questions through the scientific method. Evidently, the scientific approach, it turns out, is not demonstrably evaluatively superior to the ontological or phenomenological approach utilized by Dr. Asante. Seemingly, part of Dr. Damasios aggregate attempts to elevate the analytic forehead of the scientific method via meticulous biological resolution of the mind-body conundrum, a philosophical question whose evaluation captured the minds of Rene Descartes and Baruch Spinoza, found themselves in the fog of unproven conjectures and high-flown speculations. That is, there is so much about human spiritually, human psychology, and human personality science simply does not understand, let alone explain, if adequately.

Therefore, lets not deceive ourselves into swallowing the universalist claims of Eurocentrism that, among other misguided proposition, the scientific method is necessarily superior to intuitive and introspective knowledge in every single evaluative circumstance. Creationism and evolution are two other good examples. Creationists generally claim science confirms creationist propositions. Interestingly, creationists also say scientific investigations offer sufficient evidential affirmation of Gods existential ontology though they are yet to tell us who this God actually is, whether he is the Yahweh of Judaism, the Jesus of Christianity, or the Allah of Islam. Evolutionists, on the contrary, claim evolution is the institution of science itself though much of what the Afro-Arab scientist and writer Al-Jahiz, an intellectual precursor of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, said about biological diversity merely derived from conjectural gropings based on perceived, if nuanced, phenotypic variances in the architectural anatomy of animals.

Then again, another controversy brewing between creationists and evolutionists over whether the presence of chromosome 2 backs up creationism or evolutionism demonstrates the fluidized applicability and political insincerity of science. The debate, however, continues unabated. What do all these mean? They mean science is not necessarily all about critical thinking. They also mean scientific or empirical evidence may be doctored, invented, or transformed to conform to the wooden ideology of institutional or personal idiosyncrasies. In that context, we shall argue that science, again, is not necessarily a negation of spirituality. Further, there is no analytic connotation here saying the African world should not vigorously, if simultaneously, pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). We need not exclude a responsible push for progressive industrialization and computerization of the African world.

But industrialization is not without its shortcomings. Namely, among other problems, industrialization kills or tames spirituality, deities, and religions; sends animals to the graveyards of extinction; pollutes the environment; and breeds corruption, scientific racism, and organized crime. Besides, computerization is no different: Pornography, identity theft, industrial espionage, illegal data mining, etc., constitute a few serious problems we may associate with the illegal use of computers. Ideally, we need to clearly define our national priorities so as to put us in a better strategic position to strike a critical balance hovering over questions of moral propriety between want and need. Making better, responsible, effective, advantageous, or cost-effective choices in life, be it community, personal, or national, is part of the intellectual technology of critical thinking.

Lets push ahead. Curiously, though, Asian communities, for instance, place more intellectual and investigational premium on science, engineering, and mathematics than on the arts. That is to say, science, engineering, and mathematics have catapulted India, China, South Korea, Japan, to name but four, to economic and industrial heights of power, not through the totality of medals received at Olympic games. These countries have taken decades to accomplish what the West took centuries to accomplish, lifting hundreds of millions of their citizens out of the rusty borehole of deadening privation. Yet not every student can be a mathematician, scientist, or engineer. Some have to be custodial workers, dancers, rappers, babysitters, instrumentalists, traders, maintenance personnel, singers, writers, secretaries, fishermen, laborers, machiners, plumbers, evangelists, farmers, messengers, sports men and women, priests, carpenters, cooks, welders, fitters, and what have you.

However, it does not imply individuals should get bogged down in these occupations if creative opportunities for occupational improvement or scholarly advancement present themselves. Still, it does not mean that because society generally looks down on these occupations they do not entail critical thinking, far from it. They evidently do, in fact. In effect, that ill-informed subpart of society which refuses to countenance these occupations lacks the evaluative accoutrements of critical thinking itself. In fact, the educational models designed by Molefi Kete Asante and Howard Gardner have connotatively made this claim abundantly clear. Accordingly, this is to gainsay theoretical and practical
advocation for gullible acceptation of Asian or Western educational models because they have worked for them, an idea we wish to reinforce following the contextual contours of the foregoing arguments.

Go here to see the original:
The Power of Critical Thinking(2)

Contact Information

Available for logged-in reporters only

Newswise (Salt Lake City) A group of researchers at the University of Utah has launched a new project aimed at understanding how the brain operates in people with deep spiritual and religious beliefs.

The Religious Brain Project, which kicked off this week, aims to foster dialogue and understanding among people with diverse viewpoints on religion by learning how private religious experience may affect the social brain, and how religion may affect social behavior. The new project is a broad, multidisciplinary effort that engages many religious and scientific communities from the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University, and Westminster College. The projects first initiative revolves around studying the brains of people who have returned from serving missions on behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jeff Anderson, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of neuroradiology at the University of Utah who is also the projects director, said the study is among the first of its kind in trying to uncover the neuroscience behind the brains of religious and spiritual people.

Religious and spiritual stimuli are among the most profound influences on behavior that exists. The neuroscience of spirituality, however, is almost completely unknown, said Anderson. We want to study what happens in the brain when someone has a spiritual experience.

Anderson is the principal investigator on the study along with University of Utah researchers Michael Ferguson and Jared Nielsen. In addition, Julie Korenberg M.D. ,Ph.D., a professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah, is consulting on the project. Researchers are currently in the process of recruiting 15 to 20 volunteers to participate in the study.

Participants who agree to participate in the study, once accepted as a research subject, would arrive at a University of Utah laboratory to have an MRI scan. During that procedure, researchers would provide them with an opportunity for scripture study, prayer, and other church-produced video content that would stimulate their brains. Eligible candidates must be healthy young men and women, ages 20 to 30, who have completed an LDS mission; are active, believing members of their church; and who think they might be able to experience spiritual feelings in the controlled environment of an MRI scanner.

While the projects first study focuses on members of the Mormon faith, research will extend to other religions as the initiative continues to grow, Anderson said.

Religious and spiritual experiences are among the most powerful influences on individuals and entire cultures. We are all shaped and defined by our experiences with religion. Yet the neuroscience of religious and spiritual feeling is almost completely unknown. We are seeking answers to fundamental questions, like What happens in the brain during religious or spiritual experiences? and How is the brain changed by religious experience? said Anderson. He added that researchers hope to find deeper discoveries related to evidence that religious people score higher on a range of pro-sociality metrics such as low criminality, donation to charity, and low divorce rates.

View original post here:
Newly Launched University of Utah Religious Brain Project Seeks to Uncover Brain Activation During Religious and ...

Please support our site by enabling javascript to view ads.

This we cant argue: Bill Nyes debate with Ken Ham on Tuesday night in Kentucky sparked healthy discussion about heady topics. After that, well it gets tougher.

Heres what all the fuss was about. Nye we all know. Hes the Science Guy of TV fame. Winner of Emmy awards, dancer with the stars and best buds with some guy named Obama.

Ham is popular in his own right, too. Hes CEO of the Answers in Genesis ministry and founder of the Creation Museum, a facility thats boasted two million visitors since 2007.

They posted dueling YouTube videos last year, with Nye suggesting kids must be protected from creationist thinking. Ham countered with a roster of accomplished scientists committed to the Bibles version of events.

They continued the argument on Tuesday in Petersburg, Ken., inside the Creation Museum, speaking for about 2 hours.

Heres where the debate focused: Iscreation a viable model of origins in todays modern scientific era?

Declaring a clear winner isnt going to happen because both sides are firmly entrenched. Still, since youve lasted with us this long, we should probably get off the fence and tell you this: Nye won by a landslide.

Why? He presented evidence while Ham relied upon the Bible. Ham said he relies on Genesis for his answers, and Nye offered easy-to-understand science lessons. Among his best was counting the rings on trees.

It seems plausible to anyone who has ever chopped firewood that each single ring of a tree stump represents roughly one year in that trees life.

View post:
No debate about it, Bill Nye dissected Ken Ham in creation-evolution discussion

1. Bill Nye, are you influencing the minds of children in a positive way?

Many kids that watched Bill Nye developed a passion for knowledge that fueled their desire to become scientists (or science writers). There are many positive lessons you can learn from the Science Guy curiosity, creativity and thoughtfulness, to name but a few.

2. Are you scared of a Divine Creator?

Are you scared of a universe that does not center on mankind (and, by extension, yourself)?

3. Is it completely illogical that the earth was created mature? i.e. trees created with rings Adam created as an adult

Yes it is. The Big Bang was an extraordinary event, but there are lines of objective evidence that point towards its existence. There's no physical evidence to prove that a tree or a man can pop into being fully formed.

You could maybe argue that God shaped the universe 4,000 years ago but carefully formed it to just look like its billions of years old -- planting bones in the Earth and putting rings in trees and encoding our DNA to make us seem close to chimpanzees -- but that seems like a twisted vision of a Creator. Wouldnt a deity have something better to do than to pull a massive, universe-wide scam?

4. Does not the second law of thermodynamics disprove Evolution?

This is a common trope in creationism, but its based on a flawed understanding of thermodynamics. The second law says that the entropy which, in the interests of simplification, we can think of as disorder in a closed system will increase with time. So if its a natural law things get more disordered, then evolution must be impossible because it has created more and more complex (or ordered) forms over time!

But the key to the second law is that in a closed system part. Just as no man is an island, he is not a closed system and neither is an ape, or a single-celled amoeba. The universal trend might be increasing disorder, but theres a lot of small scale increases in order everywhere, both through natural and manmade processes. These are accompanied by increases in disorder elsewhere in the universe the system balances itself.

Read more from the original source:
22 Responses To Buzzfeed's 22 Messages From Creationists On Evolution And The Origin Of Life

General News of Sunday, 2 February 2014

Source: Ben Ofosu-Appiah, Tokyo, JAPAN.

Only last week I wrote an article here on how we black folks sometimes allow our critical faculties, our ability to rationalize and think critically and have a pragmatic and scientific evaluation of facts and the evidence to be drown out by blind and unquestionable acceptance of things that defy reason and logic and are packaged and sold to us in the name of religion.

Everybody knows that the Ghana cedi has been in a free fall and the government has proven incapable so far in dealing with the situation. Investor confidence in the economy is low and business confidence in the country is reported to be at an all-time low according to a recent report in the Daily Graphic.

The cedi has already depreciated by three per cent against the major international currencies this month. The US dollar, which sold at Ghc2.20 on the local foreign exchange market before Christmas last year, now sells at Ghc2.60. The British pound, which sold at Ghc3 now sells at Ghc4.20. The euro and CFA are also selling at Ghc3.50 and Ghc4.80 respectively. In 2013, the local currency suffered 17-per cent depreciation. The year-on-year depreciation shows a 21.96 per cent depreciation of the cedi against the dollar; 28.88 per cent against the pound sterling; 23.98 per cent against the euro and 25.54 per cent against the Swiss franc.

To be honest, the Bank of Ghana recently injected $20 million into critical areas of the economy as part of efforts to shore up the cedi but this will barely scratch the surface of the problem. The government has proven inefficient in its handling of the economy so when Archbishop Duncan -Williams had the President, the Finance Minister, the Governor of Bank of Ghana and other top leaders of the government in his audience at his church recently and he had advice to offer and some commands to give, I was expecting him to command the President and his team to put in policies that will make the falling cedi to rise and to restore investor confidence in the economy. I was expecting him to command the President to fight corruption in his government to restore peoples confidence in the governing process, I was expecting him to command the President to use judiciously the monies being borrowed to invest in the countrys infrastructure and its people so that the country will be better positioned to compete as a preferred destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) thus creating jobs for the teeming army of unemployed youth in the country. I and many rational thinking Ghanaians would have loved to see the Archbishop issue commands in the name of Jesus to the President and his team to address all these issues and many others crying for attention.

Instead he decided to do the unthinkable by according to the news report spiritually commanding the Ghana cedi to stop falling and start to rise in the name of Jesus. What? Command the cedi to stop falling? Was it meant to be a prank or something? Have Ghanaian pastors lost it? Is this pastor serious?

Read the relevant part of the news article below. as captured by RadioXYZonline.com.

Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams has spiritually commanded the falling cedi to rise.

Link:
COMMENT: Is Duncan-Williams' spiritual command to the falling cedi a bad joke?

Feature Article of Sunday, 2 February 2014

Columnist: Asante, Molefi Kete

I want my children to understand the world, but not just because the world is fascinating and the human mind is curious. I want them to understand it so that they will be positioned to make it a better place. Knowledge is not the same as morality, but we need to understand if we are to avoid past mistakes and move in productive directions. An important part of that understanding is knowing who we are and what we can doUltimately, we must synthesize our understandings for ourselves. The performance of understanding that try matters are the ones we carry out as human beings in an imperfect world which we can affect for good or for ill (Howard Gardner).

Critical thinking is a potent weapon for transforming society and individual human lives. In fact, critical thinking could potentially make de-linkage of theory from praxis a material reality. Lets not overstate its merits, however, for it can make and unmake societies and individuals for better or for worse. Eugenics, Apartheid, Nazism, bigotry, and scientific racism are creative products of critical thinking, so, too, are disease prevention, philanthropy, music, hygiene, poetry, dance, and unity. Namely, the classical music of Chevalier de Saint-George, the so-called Black Mozart, and the poetic imagism of Wole Soyinka have romantically assuaged the aural and psychological estrous of human curiosity down the years. Alternatively, we are also cognizant of how scientific racism made the lives of Hereros, Namaquas, African- and Native-Americans, Romas, and Jews a living hell.

The concept of rational choice theory may be useful in this direction. Therefore, it remains a heavy moral burden on society and individuals to carefully choose which of the dual directions of critical thinking to pursue. Do Akans want to use critical thinking to suppress the electoral franchise, cultural socialization, and economic expression of non-Akans? Do militant Hutus want to use critical thinking to make Tutsis and moderate Hutus stateless or vice versa? Do Boko Haram and Al-Shabab want to use critical thinking to alchemize nation-state into city-state or statelessness? What is critical thinking? Isnt thinking a normal human process? What separates critical thinking from thinking? Is critical thinking racial, ethnic, cultural, spiritual, or genetic? Can it be taught? How do we teach it if it can be taught? Is critical thinking a modern or pre-modern concept? Lets reject the latter as it exists only in Eurocentric imaginations!

Wasnt critical thinking part of ancient Egyptian educational system where priest-students entered universities and graduated after four decades of active study? Could the societal skyscraper of ancient Egyptian civilization have been erected without the foundational dynamics of critical thinking? To wit, Egyptian mathematics, mensuration, philosophy, science, statecraft, education, cosmology, and religion demonstrate a sophistication of critical thinking on every step of the ziggurat of Egyptian society. That is to say, critical thinking has always been integral to human evolution, psychologism, and intellection, past and present, irrespective of geography. Generally, African life itself is littered with exemplars of critical thinking.

Meanwhile, Kwame Anthony Appiahs deconstructionist critique of African Religion deprives it of critical thinking though his reservations are equally typical of Scientology, Christianity, Hinduism, Mormonism, Catholicism, Jehovahs Witnesses, Buddhism, Judaism, Shintoism, Taoism, Islam, or Anabaptism (Amish and Mennonites). Then again, the late Joseph Campbell, a mythologist, demonstrated how elements of critical thinking dangled behind esoteric cultural motifs and symbols. Further, Marcel Griaules conversations with Ogotemmeli, the famed Dogon sage and religious philosopher, expand our understanding as well as add to our storied storehouse of critical thinking in the context of African Religion. Yet again, Ron Eglash, a well-known cyberneticist, mathematician, and professor in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institutes Department of Science and Technology Studies, situated in Troy, New York, has unraveled an entire system of critical thinking behind African fractals.

In fact, Soyinkas Myth, Literature and the African World, a vigorously literarized defense of African thought, achieves the same height of corrective affirmation as Eglashs. In other words, an assortment of scholars, African and non-African, has assembled carefully-molded mountains of evidence questioning Eurocentrisms abjuration of any scientific ascription of critical thinking to the African world, for, among other achievements, these scholars have succeeded in finally overturning Western tendentious reinterpretation of the African as a clueless ontological totality, particularly, more so, with the African world, otherwise draped in the sartorial Westernity of phenomenological exclusiveness, tied to a surfeit of emotion and spirituality, yet, curiously, severed from the cranial concreteness of rationality. Lets be mindful of the fact that we are not dealing with the infamous apothegmatic Senghorian equation here, however.

In another context, Western obsession with obese African spirituality and overblown African emotionalism, technically, drove Theophile Obenga to subject ancient Egyptian philosophical papyri, a system of ancient African thought which formed the foundational statehood of Western thought, to another vigorous line of exegetical reformulation, a scientific project aimed at divesting ancient African philosophical thought of Western emotional and intellectual biases. Interestingly so, Obenga, too, noticed the DNA fingerprint of critical thinking waltzing behind the esoteric door of ancient African thought (See African Philosophy: The Pharaonic Period, 2780-330 BC). Yet, the reason the African world does seem to pride herself on the abnegation of Afrocentric thinking, videlicet, in respect of critical thinking, is ascribable, consciously or unconsciously, to cultural metastasis of Eurocentrism in the body politic. That is, Eurocentrism underwrites the claustrophobic cushioning of critical-thinking capabilities of the African world.

In addition, continued reliance of the African world on and her blind allegiance to the West and Asia is also a major part of the problem, the ostensible awayness or absence of critical thinking in todays African leadership, since she, like a joeys physiological attachment to a marsupium, has grown to see the West and Asia exclusively as embodiment of practical solutions capable of addressing her chronic problems. Otherwise what is the need for the African world to think critically for practical solutions when the said practical solutions themselves are already there, there in the groin of the West and in the axilla of Asia? In other words, wouldnt critical thinking on the part of Africans make the African world lazy? It does not make an atom of creative sense! Thus, on the one hand, we believe, quite generally, that critical thinking is best appreciated if evaluated from the standpoint of political and economic autonomy.

Link:
The Power of Critical Thinking(l)

Related Content

Prayer strengthens the women of First Cathedral Church in Bloomfield, who are on an innovative wellness journey.

SisterTalk is a faith based weight loss program.

[It's a place] where women of faith can get together and our faith be strengthened to take the journey to learn more about our bodies, to learn more about nutrition, said member Monica Forbes.

Scripture motivates them to exercise and eat healthy.

What Paul is saying to the Phillippians is forget whats behind-press toward the high call, so dont think about the ice cream you ate yesterday, Forbes said in a meeting.

Then its onto food for living, and learning to read food labels.Recipes like Ethans Mango Smoothie are also shared.

The women rely on their spiritual connection to keep them on track.

Even if you get up in the morning and you pray and youre going to do this and that, if you fall back, you can always call someone who will pray with you or call someone for advice, said member Johnese Rodgers.

I love to eat, I love food, and I enjoy going to restaurants and so I just have to have self control, said member Lisa Maurice. So I always ask God for self control and to tell him this is for my health.

Read more from the original source:
Praying the Pounds Away: Sister Talk uses spirituality to address healthy living