Category Archives: culture

Would you Adam and Eve it?

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

Here’s Ann Coulter: Amid the hoots at Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry for saying there were “gaps” in the theory of evolution, the strongest evidence for Darwinism presented by these soi-disant rationalists was a 9-year-old boy quoted in The New … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Science & Faith | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Protesting Saudi Theocracy, The Femen Way

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

NSFW, but for readers who wish to investigate further, here’s some splendid footage (on many levels) of Ukraine’s Femen group protesting the Saudi regime’s refusal to let women drive. Nicely done. And as a reminder for anyone who needs it, … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, politics, Religion | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Like a Prayer

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

Cross-posted over at the Corner: Having botched the three R’s, many American schools are now making do with a fourth instead—recycling. The following extracts come from a Saturday New York Times story about efforts to bring recycling to school lunch: … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged , | 4 Comments

What if all music was ‘Christian’ music?

Posted on July 19, 2011 by David Hume

I think this sort of rhetorical question is a good way to understand the role of religion in much of the Islamic world: there is no distinction between pop culture and religiously inflected culture. I thought of that when noticing … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Something Wicca…

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

Here’s a story from the Daily Mail of (alleged) intolerance in a small English town: It sounds like a horror story straight from medieval times. Two witches descend on an ancient market town – only to be targeted by terrified … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

There’s No Pleasing Some People

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

The BBC is going to be showing a three part documentary on the prophet Mohammed. Fair enough, but this little detail doesn’t bode too well for its objectivity: The BBC has also made clear that its series is “in line … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Religion | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Millet systems are stable (relatively)

Posted on June 22, 2011 by David Hume

Comment below: Furthermore, Millet systems are extremely unstable, to say the least. There being a reason there’s no longer any Ottoman or Austro-Hungarian empires. I take a different lesson. The Ottoman Empire and Austro-Hungary (if you include its de facto … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged | 9 Comments

“Liberal Orientalism”

Posted on June 18, 2011 by David Hume

The “farewell apology post” the “Gay Girl in Damascus” stated: This experience has sadly only confirmed my feelings regarding the often superficial coverage of the Middle East and the pervasiveness of new forms of liberal Orientalism. “Orientalism” is a term … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged | 5 Comments

Satanic Versus: Ayn Rand as Scarecrow (4)

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

Here’s Joe Carter writing in the theocon journal, First Things: Devotees of Rand may object to my outlining the association between [Rand and vintage Satanist Anton La Vey]. They will say I am proposing “guilt by association,” a form of … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, philosophy, politics | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Move Along, Nothing To See Here

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Andrew Stuttaford

Cross-posted on the Corner. Via the Daily Telegraph: Police have been accused of “covering up” a campaign of abuse, threats and violence aimed at “Islamicising” an area of London. Victims say that officers in the borough of Tower Hamlets have … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, law, politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Move Along, Nothing To See Here