Author Archives: Valerie Tarico

Unknown's avatar

About Valerie Tarico

Seattle psychologist and writer. Author - Trusting Doubt; Deas and Other Imaginings.

The Freedom to Die in Peace

This gallery contains 1 photo.

The freedom to die in peace has been much in the news of late. When an 83-year-old man shot first his dying wife and then himself in a Pennsylvania hospice, distressed commenters speculated that local law left him with no better options. … Continue reading

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

From AwayPoint on YouTube: Why The God Hypothesis is Obsolete

Christianity Through the Lens of Cognitive Science, Part 8.  (Last in Series) Brain science is remarkably close to offering a full naturalistic explanation of individual religious experiences, everything from certain belief to moral indignation to mystical rapture to spiritual transformation. … Continue reading

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Thanks for Dirty Dishes. And Taxes.

This gallery contains 9 photos.

Weird as it sounds, using tax-time to count your blessings may boost your mental health.           As April heats up and that midnight-on-the-15th deadline approaches, even the most civic minded of us can end up feeling stressed and crabby about … Continue reading

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Easter: Ancient Sumerian Roots of the Resurrrection Story

This gallery contains 1 photo.

An interview with Dr. Tony Nugent, ordained minister, scholar of world religions, and symbologist.  Many ancient religions, including early Hebrew and European pagan traditions, evolved in part out of star worship.  Because so many traditions treated celestial events including the solstices and equinoxes as auspicious, it can be … Continue reading

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , | 49 Comments

Religious Trauma Syndrome: How Some Organized Religion Leads to Mental Health Problems

This gallery contains 2 photos.

At age sixteen I began what would be a four year struggle with bulimia.  When the symptoms started, I turned in desperation to adults who knew more than I did about how to stop shameful behavior—my Bible study leader and … Continue reading

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 241 Comments