Category Archives: culture

Pressing Some Buttons

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

The Raw Story: The Vatican has formally recognised the International Association of Exorcists, giving its blessing to a group of 250 priests in 30 countries who claim to save the possessed from Satan. The association’s practice of exorcism is now … Continue reading →

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Populist Pope, Populist Religion

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

The Washington Post reports: VATICAN CITY — A darling of liberal Catholics and an advocate of inclusion and forgiveness, Pope Francis is hardly known for fire and brimstone. Well, if that is what he is “hardly known for”, people have … Continue reading →

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As We Await the End Times

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

Cross-posted on Ricochet. The art of writing a first paragraph is said to lie in the ability to draw the reader in. I would say that Lily Lynch’s remarkable new piece in The Balkanist passes that test very well indeed: … Continue reading →

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Superstition, Updated

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

There’s nothing new about the notion of wrapping food in myth or taboo, but our species can be inventive when it comes to finding new ways to do it: The Copenhagen Post reports: Diets low in fat, carbohydrates and sugar … Continue reading →

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Two Faiths

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

While there are perfectly good scientific reasons for accepting the theory of AGW, the certainty, the fervor and the moralizing displayed by some in the climate change crusade look very much like a form of religious belief. Under the circumstances … Continue reading →

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Il Faut Cultiver

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

Every man, said Frederick the Great, must get to heaven in his own way. Fair enough, but this ‘workshop’ (once a word with positive associations, but now….) is probably not for me: Sacred Gardens Workshop May 2014 : a practical … Continue reading →

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Multiculturalism will collapse due to its own internal contradictions

Posted on March 10, 2014 by David Hume

Canada is arguably the apotheosis of modern Western multiculturalism (nations like Belgium are not in any sort of honeymoon phase obviously with the idea of inter-cultural amity). This article in The New York Times highlights the fundamental problem at the … Continue reading →

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Spaghetti Monster Monstered

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

Huffington Post UK: A poster which replaced the image of God from the Sistine Chapel with a picture of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has been removed after with a row with a London University. The South Bank University Atheism society … Continue reading →

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It’s Darwin’s Birthday Today, But….

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

It’s Darwin’s birthday today, which is a good excuse to note that his message may not have entirely got through. Here’s Gallup from June 2012: Despite the many changes that have taken place in American society and culture over the … Continue reading →

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Critique for thee, not for me

Posted on February 11, 2014 by David Hume

Over at The Nation Michelle Goldberg has a long piece on the internecine conflicts within online feminism. First, an admission. I’ve long been a follower of these blow-ups on the feminist Left blogosphere because it is compelling to me in … Continue reading →

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