…ue certain technologies. Plenty of religious communities are trying to put services online, though (at least thus far) it’s probably easier to telecommute than to teleworship. Whether you appreciate religious voices in the public sphere or not, it’s clear that faith-based movements could make some distinctive cases for the power of human proximity and non-digital interactions—the kinds of cases that might make techno-critics like Sherry Turkle and…
…five times its size, RD has evolved from an academic project to a thriving online magazine. Do you accept unsolicited submissions? Yes, see guidelines by clicking the Submissions tab in the nav bar above. Shall I navigate my web browser to your home page each day? Sure! We publish new material daily. You can also sign up for the Newsletter and join us on Facebook and Twitter. I’m not a writer but I have a great idea for a story. How can I tell you…
…nd, a second attack by a knife-wielding teenage girl was attributed to the online Slender Man mythos. While the attack could be a copycat crime, the connection to Slender Man is speculative. The odds of a wave of meme-driven girls hacking their way through America’s suburbs seem—well—slim. It requires exceptional circumstances for a preoccupation with a legend to manifest into actual violence. Given the long history of panic in America I’m more co…
…ined that he feels more like the creature’s manager than its creator. Soon online forums speculated that Slender Man had not been created by Knudsen, but was a real entity described by ancient cultures around the world. A recent book by Rev. Robin Swope (aka “The Paranormal Pastor”) asserts that Slender Man is an actual demonic entity rather than an Internet meme. The body of material surrounding the history, abilities, and motivations of Slender…
…ont to women’s moral agency but opens the door to denying a whole range of services, from other kinds of reproductive health care to services to LGBT people,” she said. NCAN has a long history of reproductive justice and Catholic reform activism. Quinn has volunteered as an abortion clinic escort and was one of the leaders of a delegation of women religious to Rome 1994 to hold a parallel discussion about the role of women religious during the bis…
…ing six and shooting thirteen others), pundits hungrily combed through his online ramblings for evidence that he was left- or right-wing—whichever ideology the pundit wanted to tarnish by association. Liberals pointed to Loughner’s opposition to fiat currency and centralized government, while conservatives pointed to Loughner’s 9/11 trutherism and anti-religious ideas. The truth was that Loughner wasn’t liberal or conservative. He was a conspiraci…
…smoking gun proving not only that Satanists hold black masses all over the country, but that elite institutions like Harvard actively attack Christianity under the guise of multi-cultural education. The black mass was cancelled and 1500 Catholics marched on Harvard Square. Conservatives have constructed a narrative of the event as a righteous defeat of the forces of evil. This narrative has inspired others to mobilize against self-declared Satanis…
…ioactive lizard, all being reimagined, reinterpreted, and pressed into the service of each generation’s dreams. [T]he seeds of today’s religious landscape were present in The Monster Manual, with its dreadful dangers and exuberant enchantments. There’s a long history here. Take, for example, The Book of Miracles, a recently published facsimile of the 16th century text first published in the city of Augsburg, whose authors, illustrators, and even p…
…rwise, more little snakes will be raised.” This week Israel’s most popular online news source, Ynetnews, published an op-ed by a rabbi citing Biblical passages as a rationale for extending the bloodshed in Gaza. The statements of Ovadia Yosef, whose recent passing was met with flattering memorials both in Israel and the US, are legendary. The former Chief Rabbi of Israel and spiritual leader of many Middle Eastern Jews, said, among other things, t…
…ound as we share ideas, hopes, worries, and more. These friendships forged online are not tainted by stereotypes and prejudice, but are stronger because we respect one another’s differences. Maybe people who reach out on social sites are more inclined to be open, understanding and trusting? Either way, those who are insincere can be blocked or deleted with the push of a finger in one second. Zapped! We on the social networks try to help each other…
