Gwen Sharp:
It’s fascinating, really: femininity is depicted as weakness, the sapping of strength, yet masculinity is so fragile that apparently even the slightest brush with the feminine destroys it. (via)

The more threatening something is deemed to be, the more it has to be repressed, kept within its proper bounds. Those who are most insistent ( Read more... )

The major work of a C19th women’s rights activist who had Christianity in her sights (and seems to have been the original source for the “9 million dead” estimate for the witchburnings).

Someone is killing Peruvian shaman. A new religion of mediumship in Venezuela reflects Venezuela’s very high homicide rate.

Mapping religious belief in Europe: “ ( Read more... )

The first Australian TV series about the home life of a sitting PM is about the home life of the first female PM. Is this a coincidence?

Discussed here, including monotheism's sex and gender issues and the importance of the status of women in future possibilities for Islam.

A Nepalese priest carries a living goddess.

The Pope declares Jews bear no collective guilt for the death of Christ.

About how Adam Smith defended himself from religious persecution.

A particularly charming take on the Christmas story.

Trying to list the top 10 craziest cults. (The slogan pic is fun too.)

Keeping up with the news in witchcraft ( Read more... )

I am reposting a new version of my earlier post on reading political responsibility into the Tucson shootings because responses to my original post wandered off into whose rhetoric was worse, which was irrelevant to the point the post was trying to make, and because the earlier version ended up with so many updates as to be unwieldy. So, once again ( Read more... )

What do we know about the tragic shootings in Tucson?

(1) The shooter shows considerable evidence of mental illness. [UPDATE His logical disconnectedness showed up in his philosophy class.]
(2) He has stated admiration for an eclectic group of political texts, (The Communist Manifesto, Mein Kampf) of extreme but not of a politically specific ( Read more... )

Remember, God hates shrimp!

Review of The Shack, a novel about interrogating God which is a massive bestseller in the US.

A nice explication of the differences between the Latin/Catholic and Greek/Orthodox views of the Trinity.

About the rise of the religious Left in the US.

A psychologist looks at the data on clergy sex abuse ( Read more... )

About an advocate of Jewish settlement in Australia rather than Palestine.

Independent IT contractors face some difficulties with tax law.

About the public arena dominance of the inner city.

“Dr Death” is currently in custody awaiting charges: he had a truly appalling career.

About the problem of commercial bullying. About “awards” for bad ( Read more... )

Pics of a hand-made dolls house of Bag End.

About how to use a semi colon.

Losing massive amounts of weight through yoga.

10 oddest legal defences: I like the attempt to call a parrot as a witness the most.

A very personal account of dealing with a pregnancy where the child was identified as severely handicappedThe American Association of ( Read more... )