Tag Archives: superstition

Ayahuasca and the D’Ohs of Perception

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Andrew Stuttaford

Cross-posted on the Corner: Madness, too much time in the desert or just the right hallucinogenic concoction all seem to be reasonably reliable routes to mysticism. Ayahuasca is (the New Yorker reports) “an intensely hallucinogenic potion made from boiling woody … Continue reading →

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Demons On The Couch

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Andrew Stuttaford

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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Smashing The Spirit Level

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Andrew Stuttaford

The Guardian: When Morgan Maguire was growing up, she struggled to find a role model. As a young Catholic schoolgirl in Hanover, Pennsylvania, she was often teased about her love of history and scary stories, and when it came to … Continue reading →

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Against Sauron, Mini-Skirts and Alien/Devil Confusion

Posted on December 14, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

Take some superstition, throw in a hint of xenophobia and add a savvy PR touch… USA Today: MOSCOW — Russian fans of the writer J.R.R. Tolkien were disappointed Wednesday after a local art group abandoned plans to install a flaming … Continue reading →

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Star Turn

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

The BBC: A Conservative MP has spoken of his belief in astrology and his desire to incorporate it into medicine. David Tredinnick said he had spent 20 years studying astrology and healthcare and was convinced it could work….Explaining his beliefs … Continue reading →

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Superstitions Old and New

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

Raw Story: Televangelist Pat Robertson advised a mother on Monday that she could cure her son’s stomach pains by finding someone to cast out demons that were possibly caused by an ancestor who practiced witchcraft. In an email, a viewer … Continue reading →

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Can Water Weep?

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Andrew Stuttaford

Cross-posted on the Corner: The Independent: In the latest episode of ‘Gwyneth Paltrow states the absolute ridiculous’, the actress has claimed that saying negative things to water can hurt its feelings. What? Well, that’s a little bit of a stretch … 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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Science Update

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

The Daily Telegraph reports: Angels exist but do not have wings and are more like shards of light, at least according to a top Catholic Church “angelologist” who says the heavenly beings are now back in vogue thanks to New … Continue reading →

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Religious Freedom!

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

It’s not just the HHS contraception mandate. Another front opens up in the ‘religious freedom’ debate. The Daily Telegraph reports: As beads of sweat slithered down his temples, Andrew Hamblin stared in wide-eyed wonder at the three-foot timber rattlesnake he … Continue reading →

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