I am not good at anniversaries of things I have been around for, so the 9/11 anniversary rather passed me by until I began to read lots of online anniversary posts. (Such as this one, which has good amateur footage with comments-as-it-happened ( Read more... )

A model of religious belief.

In the US, women are more religious than men and this is the more so the more secularised the population.

Review of a book with a positive moral spin on the evolution of conceptions of the divine

Jimmy Carter on how the words of God do not justify denying women equality.

About Egypt’s premier scholar of Judaism and ( Read more... )

About finding comfort and healing in reading the classics.

Nice illumination of the difference between demonisation and ad hominen.

Listing all the least free countries on Earth. Most of them are “revolutionary” states of some variety.

About the experience of researching, writing and printing a book on (dis)honour killings. “Secular” Syria ( Read more... )

About the damage to the Iranian theocracy and to the Iranian model. Reports of discussions to eliminate the Supreme Leader position. More. The deeply implausible election results. Some “errors” have been admitted to. But no major irregularities. The Guardian council has since extended its deadlines for examining irregularities. The Interior ( Read more... )

Review of a book that argues that religion is not, nor is it likely to, die out. Interview with the authors.

Post with lots of links about Scientology.

UK’s Chief Rabbi warns of virulent new strain of anti-Semitism.

George Galloway having a bit a problem on film of Islamic imans making violent statements.

A Rev. Fred Phelps exposure site ( Read more... )

Should a toddler witness childbirth? (It is worth a chuckle.)

About the difference between mindfulness, metacognition and critical thinking. About the dangers of being too concerned with gathering data.

About nihilist Romanian philosopher E.M. Cioran: right-thinkers consider Cioran anathema for the fascistic undercurrents in his thought ( ( Read more... )

The Justin campaign, a website promoting opposition to homophobia in professional football.

On gay black philosopher Alain Locke and African-American intellectuals, race and culture.

An extremely thoughtful piece on the US Supreme Court and culture of freedom: The problem is rather that the culture of freedom gives rise to a tension between the ( Read more... )

Finally got around to seeing the film V for Vendetta on Wednesday night at Rohan/Vandel's place. Considered purely as a film, it is a very fine achievement, excellent in every department.

As per normal with comic book films, I have not read the original comic book. Looking up the Wikipedia(tm) entry on the original comic, I am struck by how the ( Read more... )

Having fun with a NYT columnist not knowing his Hume.

About the dramatic life of uberblogger Andrew Sullivan.

Being irritated by a new book with a great title about English usage.

Arguing that liberalism excludes alternative perspectives via a “tyrannical logic”.

About de Tocqueville, personal responsibility and liberty ( Read more... )

Philosopher Simon Blackburn on the subtle irony of David Hume’s position on religion.

Scandinavians are very relaxed about religion.

About the Jewish concept of “the Chosen People”.

Tibetan Buddhism: historically, not so peaceful.

The dangerous life of a woman Muslim apostate … in the UK ( Read more... )