“Ask Dr Neuman” Advice Column
The aliens and the granary Ben Carson recently repeated his theory that the pyramids were built by Joseph and his Egyptian friends to serve as a granary so they could prepare for the seven “lean years” of famine that Joseph expected based on his careful reading of one...
“Creationist Mathematics.” A long time ago, when I was a psychiatric resident, one of the patients on our ward entertained all the residents by giving a lecture on certain advances in mathematics that he had invented. We sat attentively while he drew on a blackboard...
If I were God, and I was really angry… Whoever said, “God moves in mysterious ways,” really knew what he was talking about. According to the Bible, God employs very subtle and indirect means to achieve His purposes. For instance, when God wanted Joshua to win a...
Not entirely in the eye of the beholder We know a lot—at least we think we know a lot—about mating rituals in animals. These are often complicated behaviors that can last for hours and are designed to demonstrate good looks and physical prowess. Why? All that preening...
The interface time. Back a long, long time ago, human beings—or what passed for human beings back then—communicated like many other animals with gestures and calls of one sort or another. It is important for animals that live in packs to be able to communicate with...
There is always an argument about whether a particular psychological trait or symptom is genetic in origin or a product of environment. This is known as the “nature vs. nurture” debate. Most times the proper answer is “both.” For example, studies on twins have shown...
Edna, the cavewoman, knew what she was talking about.Bernie and Charlie, the cavemen, were both friends even though Bernie was a worrier and Charlie was relaxed. Charlie slept outside the cave on humid nights where he could look at the stars and listen to the...
There is a condition called generalized anxiety disorder, which isn’t really a disorder, but which describes people who seem to be worrying all the time. Some typical worries: that this mole on my arm may be malignant, that the children will be kidnapped on the way to...