Social Network Analysis: Rediscoveries

Lately, I have been noticing that common sense and wisdom are often lost in the murky waters of our time. A society where the old are forgotten along with their wisdom, and books are geared toward the lowest common denominator does not a well informed community grow.

Every once in awhile I peruse the front page of Google Books to see what is circulating in their library. Today I saw a title "Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications" by Wasserman and Faust.

The beginning of Part I reads

"The notion of a social network and the methods of social network analysis have attracted considerable interest and curiosity from the social and behavioral science community within recent decades. Much of this interest can be attributed to the appealing focus of social network analysis on relationships among social entities, on the patterns and implications of these relationships."

Later the writers brief their intention of the book as "analyzing social network data."

Christians have discovered over the centuries that social networks are the most powerful tool for the spread of ideas, organization of communities, and positive growth of relationships. Rodney Stark gives insight on this issue in his "The Rise of Christianity" where he succinctly outlines the spread of the Christian sect in the empire through a sociological method.

It pays to pay attention to history and the wisdom that she passes down. Otherwise you might find yourself writing a book on new phenomena.

Attendant Gifts and T-Shirt Art

The most pressing wedding plans have been taken care of. Alls that’s left are some minor purchases. We are saving up coupons for flowers, pillows, and cake decorating items. Attendant gifts also need to be got, but, what do grooms buy for their groomsmen? Flasks, inscribed beer glasses, stock in Playboy, and even real estate on the moon. I was hoping to get something practical, like knives. The gender specific gift ideas that I have found so far are interesting insofar as they tell the pulse of American masculinity (what do they do in other cultures?) and the culture of ‘wedding’ in the States.

Also, after being introduced to some of Francis Schaeffer’s thought this year in Escape from Reason, I can digest some of his theses on this new age of art or un-art or antiart. Even so, I cannot give Schaeffer my vote of confidence because I believe he gives his analysis so quickly without much detail–I believe he would point to artists with great potential pouring time into using cotton t’s as a gallery and venue for ‘transcendance’ as a turn in the wrong direction.

Woodrow Wilson and My Summer Reading

I've amassed a queue of books to be read this time of year, as I do every year, and am treating myself to biography first, Woodrow Wilson: World Statesman.

A stack of this year's First Things and a close look at Bonhoeffer's Ethics also remain to be finished.

I am not a prolific reader and by the amount of posts on this shabby journal, a prolific writer either. But I find solace in words--both written and those to be written. There is a slowing down, a relaxed pace that welcomes reflection and fair-minded judgment I find when enabled to survey the collections of voice and vision.

What are you reading?

Ralph D. Winter: A Short Word

"Influential missiologist Dr Ralph D Winter died Wednesday night after a long battle with cancer. He was 84." -Christian Post

It was a pleasure to have been around Dr. Winter this year as an Insight student in the Pasadena Cohort. Concise, driven, and the perfect conversationalist, he rubbed off on you like dew on grass. With fervency and endurance, I noticed that his disease, his age, and the profound burden for souls did not paralyze him. In my youth and zeal, my strength and length of days ahead of me, I am so far behind! To the glory of God, it is possible to live well. And the testimony of Dr. Winter, another witness who has taken place among the faithful, shines brightly to a group who would take upon the responsibility handed down to us; obedience to God's purposes now.

This is not a sad death. This is a victorious life, a life which we can celebrate under possibility.