Religion Dispatches
The history of Christianity, as atheists are fond of reminding us, is one that has been drenched in blood. Whether religious war, inquisition, or colonial violence, there’s been great evil committed in the name of God. What role has the idea of Satan played in the development of this culture?
Read More
Zombie Jesus might seem silly to you and horror may not be your thing. But spiritual seekers might want to ponder the imagery of horror precisely because it runs against some of their instincts. Freud famously argued in his essay “The Uncanny” that horrific fairy tales terrified us as children because they reminded us of the vulnerability of our bodies. The horror tradition, maybe especially the zombie narrative, does the same for adults.
Read More
Generally, sociologists do not use the word “cult.” Those that do, such as William Bainbridge and Rodney Stark, use it in a highly specialized way to indicate groups that are innovative (unlike churches) but open to everyone (unlike sects). Religion scholars who study “new religious movements” (or NRMs) are the first to admit that “cult,” in its modern usage, has always been a theological term used by Protestants to label religions they do not like.
Read MoreSubatomic particles break the cosmic speed limit—will theology catch up?
Read MoreWhat scientists discover and what they say about it are two different things.
Read More
Recently a religious book club told me they were taking a pass on reading my book, Wage Theft in America: Why Millions of Working Americans Are Not Getting Paid—And What We Can Do About It, because it wasn’t theological enough. At first I shrugged it off…
Read MoreYesterday’s false story on the UCC dropping the Trinity got it backwards: it’s about all the UCC congregations do agree on. And that’s okay.
Read MoreThe idea that God might actually pick sides is disturbing.
Read MoreOr is it just war as usual…?
Read More
When he’s not writing bestselling books, Vincent Bugliosi is a legendary prosecuting attorney. As such, he is certainly well acquainted with the legal policy of presumption of innocence. His newest book, Divinity of Doubt, a treatise on agnosticism, would have been much better if Bugliosi had taken this principle into account in the context of his arguments for, and against, God.
Read More