St. Francis's Extreme Embrace of Poverty

Among his many virtues, [St. Francis of Assisi] is known for his passionate embrace of poverty. Not only did he forbid his emerging Order to own property, ...

Our Preposterous Fantasies

God has made [our] fantasies … so preposterously unrewarding that we are forced to turn to him for help and for mercy. We seek wealth and find ...

Outthinking Burglars or Playing into Their Hands?

If we knew the most likely place a thief might strike would we react differently? The front door and first-floor window are the most common places burglars ...

The True Power of Temptation

The power of temptation is not in its appeal to our baser instincts; if that were the case, it would be natural to be repulsed by it. The power of temptation ...

Reasons for Image Obsession Among Girls

In an article for Psychology Today magazine, Hara Marano writes about the constant pressure girls face concerning their image. Deprived of an internal ...

Different Attitudes Among Silver and Bronze Medalists

A fascinating study done by Professor Vicki Medvec reveals the relative importance of subjective attitudes over and above objective circumstances. Medvec ...

Most Bypass Patients Don't Change Lifestyles

A [2006] medical study reveals just how difficult change is for people. Roughly 600,000 people have heart bypasses a year in America. These people are ...

Connoisseurs Pay Top Dollar for Questionable Delicacy

People will pay top dollar for anything, as long as they think it's a rare treat.

Taiwanese coffee farmers have long been pestered by Formosan rock ...

Sin Looks Pleasant at First

We are too apt to forget that temptation to sin will rarely present itself to us in its true colors, saying, "I am your deadly enemy, and I want ...

Friends Can Cause Obesity

The New England Journal of Medicine recently exposed another factor that contributes to obesity: a person's circle of friends. Statistics say it isn't ...