Monthly Archives: December 2011

The symbolism of the nonexistent

Posted on December 27, 2011 by David Hume

A few years ago I listened to Brad Stine, who happens to be a conservative Christian, make a joke to a sympathetic audience about how funny it was that some non-Christians were offended and objected to the image of a cross … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion | Tagged | 9 Comments

Atheists behaving churlishly

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Heather Mac Donald

Of the various Christmas sightseeing destinations offered a child in 1960s Los Angeles, the Santa Monica crèches—a series of small stage sets erected on the bluffs above the Pacific Coast Highway–were particularly alluring.   The life-sized mannequins that populated the chicken-wire … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 42 Comments

Merry Christmas One and All…

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

…on the occasion of this thoroughly enjoyable, marvelously syncretic celebration. “For the people who were shovelling away on the house-tops were jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another from the parapets, and now and then exchanging a … Continue reading →

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Glimpses of Future Disaster

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

Demographic projections always have to be treated with a great deal of care, but this (from a piece in the National Interest) still makes disturbing reading: A recent report compiled by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics makes some projections looking … Continue reading →

Posted in politics | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Another God, Dead

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

Via the Daily Telegraph: When the Sun of Mankind was born, in a humble log cabin on his nation’s holiest mountain, a new bright star shone in the heavens, and a double rainbow appeared. The birds sang songs of praise … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged | 4 Comments

Tanya Rosenblit

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

Via the New Zealand Herald: She had no intention of emulating Rosa Parks when she set out to find a bus to Jerusalem on Friday but by yesterday Tanya Rosenblit had become a defiant symbol around whom a majority of … Continue reading →

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Why Ron Paul will not run as a third party candidate in 2012

Posted on December 20, 2011 by David Hume

Will Ron Paul kill the caucuses?: The most troubling eventuality that Iowa Republicans are bracing for is that Paul wins the caucuses only to lose the nomination and run as a third-party candidate in November — all but ensuring President … Continue reading →

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Newt Gingrich & David Barton

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

OK, the source is Right Wing Watch, but here is Gingrich speaking with Rick Green, one of David Barton’s colleagues at Wallbuilders, but, clearly, ‘at’ Barton. Gingrich: All I can tell you is that sometime in February or March, Calista … Continue reading →

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Newt Gingrich, Historian

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

Via the Economist: Believers in the idea that America was established as a Christian state scored a hit last year when the Texas school board, a politicised body in which evangelicals control crucial votes, ordered up textbooks laying out this … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Choosing

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

Via The Tablet, an interesting story from Israel: According to the Israeli government, there are roughly 5,800,000 religious Jews in Israel, 1,320,000 Muslims, 150,000 Christians, 130,000 Druze, and exactly one secular Jew. His name is Yoram Kaniuk—and if a new … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, Religion | Tagged | 1 Comment