Author Archives: Andrew Stuttaford

ISIS, God and The Devil

Austen Ivereigh’s defense of Pope Francis’ response to ISIS appears to be, well, evolving. Just the other day, he was arguing this: [ISIS] is a wholly modernistic creation, a vehicle of power, the “technocratic paradigm” of domination and exploitation, applied … Continue reading

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The Avoidance of Uncomfortable Reality

Cross-posted on the Corner. Crux: Pope Francis on Sunday defended his avoidance of the term “Islamic violence” by suggesting the potential for violence lies in every religion, including Catholicism. “I don’t like to talk about Islamic violence, because every day, … Continue reading

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“On A Relentless March”

The news that some in the Democratic Party might have tried to ‘out’ Bernie Sanders as an atheist was neither particularly surprising nor particularly shocking. Atheism doesn’t play well with the electorate. What’s more, to the extent that a candidate’s … Continue reading

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Father Hamel: An ‘Absurd’ Killing?

Cross-posted on the Corner. I posted something yesterday on Pope Francis’ disconcerting (there are other adjectives) response to the murder of Father Hamel in Normandy earlier this week, specifically with reference to this comment: “I only want to clarify, when … Continue reading

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Pope Francis: ‘Religions Don’t Want War’

Cross-posted on the Corner. The day after an elderly Catholic priest is butchered in his church by Islamic extremists, Pope Francis offers up his explanation (my emphasis added):. ABC: Pope Francis says the world is at war, but is stressing … Continue reading

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Bernie Sanders, Sinister Atheist!

Well, well, well.. The Independent: The Democratic National Committee – a supposedly neutral organisation – apparently hatched a plan to try and undermine Bernie Sanders’ campaign against Hillary Clinton by getting someone to claim he was an atheist. The Sanders … Continue reading

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Not Erdoğan (2)

With Islamist Turkish president Erdoğan continuing to take advantage of the failed coup that  he has described as a “gift from God”, here’s another quote from an infinitely greater Turk, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk: Religion is an important institution. A nation without religion … Continue reading

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Not Erdoğan

Given the news  from Turkey, a quote or two from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk seemed appropriate: I have no religion, and at times I wish all religions at the bottom of the sea. He is a weak ruler who needs religion … Continue reading

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Happy Independence Day!

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Demons On The Couch

Writing in the Washington Post, a psychiatrist (Richard Gallagher) essentially gives up on the ability of his profession to understand the complexity of the human mind. Some cases of ‘demonic possession’ are, he has come to believe, real. For the … Continue reading

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