Category Archives: culture

Are Some Atheists Vampires?

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Andrew Stuttaford

What is it about a crucifix that so alarms some atheists? This story from the Daily Telegraph makes for depressing reading. Here is its grubby essence: An Italian atheist mother has won an European court ruling against the use of crucifixes … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged | 13 Comments

“Sandwich artist” killing spree

Posted on November 6, 2009 by David Hume

Orlando shooting suspect had recently filed for bankruptcy: The suspect in Friday’s shooting of six people in a downtown high-rise is a 40-year-old “man with economic woes that include a recent bankruptcy filing, federal records show. … A man who … Continue reading →

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American, a dissenting Protestant nation?

Posted on November 5, 2009 by David Hume

In my post Religious diversity & its discontents I referred to America as a “Protestant nation.” This caused some confusion because as regular readers know I’m not too focused on theology, as opposed to historical and evolutionary continuity. For example, … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, data | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

The necessity of the non-answer

Posted on November 1, 2009 by David Hume

Clark of Mormon Metaphysics points to this screed by Peter Lawler over at Postmodern Conservative by way of praising Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and Its Fashionable Enemies. Lawler asserts: … It begins as a criticism of the naive stupidity … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, culture | Tagged | 74 Comments

White men can’t be progressive?

Posted on November 1, 2009 by David Hume

Matt Yglesias says, White Men Are Not Very Progressive: I would say that another message is that progressive politics is badly disadvantaged by a situation in which the overwhelming majorities of political leaders and prominent media figures are white men. … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, data | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Rationality & culture

Posted on November 1, 2009 by David Hume

At ScienceBlogs, where most of my readers are liberal, Katherine says: This is why I think rightism is absurd: because it seems to be so uncomfortable with letting others simply go about their lives in whatever way they themselves wish. … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | 5 Comments

The Pagans are Coming!

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Andrew Stuttaford

How’s that whole Enlightenment thing going? Not so well, it seems: click here for Saturday’s New York Times story on the rise of paganism. Predictable, uncritical pap for the most part, although I noted this section with, well, I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Religious diversity & its discontents

Posted on November 1, 2009 by David Hume

Over at ScienceBlogs I’ve put a comment up about tensions in New York City between a mosque & an establishment across the street which serves alcohol. The issues around public displays of religion, and the norms which are enforced around … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged , , | 32 Comments

Saying Boo To A Ghost

Posted on October 31, 2009 by Andrew Stuttaford

So far as Hallowe’en is concerned, the Pope, it seems, is all bah, humbug. The Daily Telegraph has the details: The Holy See has warned that parents should not allow their children to dress up as ghosts and ghouls on … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Odds & Ends | Tagged | 10 Comments

Why are Catholics Democrats?

Posted on October 30, 2009 by David Hume

Norman Podhortez just came out with a book, Why Are Jews Liberals?. It seems that this as intellectually interesting as writing a book, “Why are blacks Democrats?”, would be. You can tick off specific reasons, but in ethnic terms American … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, data | Tagged , , | 24 Comments