I’m terribly sorry, but I failed to make a note to myself yesterday of who it was that brought this item to my attention, and now I can’t remember.  In any event, I’m grateful:   https://mic.com/articles/182057/more-than-20000-muslims-gathered-in-canada-for-three-days-to-denounce-terrorism#.roLjIILkp   I realize that the Ahmadiyya are a distinct and often rejected Islamic religious minority — they’ve actually been called “the Mormons of Islam” — but it’s not as if they’re the only Muslims speaking out against terrorism.  And these voices need... Read more

    Probably around forty years ago — yes, I’m that incredibly old — I read a fair amount about the famous Shroud of Turin.  Since then, unfortunately, not so much.   It’s still a very interesting topic, though.  And, conceivably, a momentous one.   I’m grateful to Matthew Wheeler for calling this item to my attention:   http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4703018/Turin-Shroud-stained-blood-torture-victim.html#ixzz4nAtibZbl   It seems that I may have to start reading more seriously about sindonology again.   Posted from Honolulu, Hawaii  ... Read more

    One of my all-time favorite book purchases came here in Honolulu, several years ago.  It was Da Jesus Book, a translation (entirely serious, I hasten to add, not a joke) of the New Testament into Hawaiian pidgin, a form of English spoken by more than a few people beyond the Islands’ sophisticated urban areas.   Now, to my enormous delight — I don’t know how long it’s been around — I’ve found Da Befo Jesus Book, which is a translation of... Read more

    As I’ve said, I don’t altogether trust Breitbart News — particularly since it became the quasi-official mouthpiece for the Trumpist alt.right a few years ago after the premature death of its founder, Andrew Breitbart.   But that doesn’t mean that everything published by Breitbart is false.  On this one, although I find it plausible, I just don’t know.   I do, however, know that, in sharing the link below, I’ll disappoint some and anger others.  (What’s new?)  I... Read more

    A short essay by my friend Kevin Barney.  I’m guessing that we disagree on just about every currently debated partisan political issue, but it’s worthwhile reading what he has to say:   On Becoming a Liberal-Minded Mormon   Incidentally, for the record, although I’m both religiously and politically conservative, I consider myself “a faithful but intellectually curious Mormon,” too.   Posted from Honolulu, Hawaii     Read more

    I think that this article makes some good points:   http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/march-web-only/when-science-comes-to-church.html?start=1   One of my personal hopes is to have the Interpreter Foundation sponsor another conference on science and religion (we’ve already sponsored two), but this time with the focus on science as a religious experience.  (Ideally, of course, we would have one or more co-sponsors, as well.)   I would like to hear from practicing scientists and mathematicians on the feelings of awe, wonder, astonishment, beauty, and... Read more

    Mr. Jeremy Runnells believes (sincerely, I think) that I’ve led a campaign of lies against him for two or three years, smearing him and attacking him personally.  And so forth.  He’s told me so repeatedly in various brief but remarkably unpleasant online encounters, including an unexpected one that extended over the past several hours.   It’s not true.   It’s also not true, despite his claims, that I’m obsessed with him.  Not even slightly.  He points, as evidence,... Read more

    I absolutely hate what’s happening in Turkey, a place that I love:   http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/15/europe/turkey-coup-attempt-anniversary/index.html   For years, with others, I could point to Turkey as a Middle Eastern success story, a place where separation of mosque and state was firmly established (as we thought) and a place that could be integrated into the community of nations generally and, even, specifically into the West.   No longer.   Not while Erdogan is in power, anyway.   Posted from Honolulu,... Read more

    I don’t know exactly what to make of this, but it’s intriguing:   http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/pope-benedict-sos/   We’re in a very unusual situation, with both a reigning pope and a living “pope emeritus.” Posted from Honolulu, Hawaii     Read more

    “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” James A. Mitchener   Posted from Honolulu, Hawaii     Read more