“Because we hold it for a fundamental and undeniable truth, ‘that Religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only be reason and conviction, not by force or violence.’  The Religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man: and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate.” James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance... Read more

    “Supervisor once emailing Jewish employee that supervisor has ‘been working like a Hebrew slave’ = legally punishable religious harassment”   It should be noted that Eugene Volokh, the author of the piece above, is a professor of law at UCLA who is himself Jewish.   David French, the author of the commentary below, is an Evangelical Christian with a  law degree from Harvard:   “This is How Free Speech Slowly Dies”     Read more

    Word out of Shanghai:   http://mormanity.blogspot.com/2017/02/chinas-false-god-of-basketball-is.html   And, by the way, while we’re in the vein, it’s fun (for a BYU supporter) to watch this highlight video.  Especially starting at about 8:50:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIYqjSkIrok   “BYU basketball: Cougars do ‘something special,’ shock No. 1 Gonzaga”     Read more

    What do you think?   http://atlanta.curbed.com/2017/2/28/14757898/sandy-springs-mercedes-benz-drive-mormon-temple           Read more

    Were you upset by the recent demotion of Pluto?   There may be hope!  This proposal would restore it to full planetary glory — among many, many other things:   http://www.realclearscience.com/quick_and_clear_science/2017/02/22/proposed_planet_definition_means_solar_system_has_110_planets.html     Read more

    . . . and finally concede several things that I’ve never ever doubted or denied:   Yes, it’s true that far too many contemporary Muslims are engaging in horrific violence in the name of God.   (You can stop jamming the bamboo splints under my fingernails now.)   Yes, I admit that there are passages in the Qur’an that can be, and have been, interpreted as legitimating such religious violence and other acts of repression.   (Please don’t... Read more

    As religious freedom comes under increasing attack not only from many on the political Left but from some on the political Right, I’m happy and proud that the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognize the importance of the issue and have been mobilizing to meet the challenge.  Here’s one small recent example:   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/defender-of-religious-liberty-receives-award     Read more

    “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.”  Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)     Read more

    With the subtitle “Something rotten,” the Economist examines “an odd blasphemy case in Denmark”:   http://www.economist.com/blogs/erasmus/2017/02/something-rotten     Read more

    I’m a bit amused by the description of both Mr. Donald J. Trump’s America and Mr. Vladimir Putin’s Russia as “Christian powers,” but, otherwise, I think this is a pretty interesting article:   http://www.economist.com/blogs/erasmus/2017/02/telling-friend-foe     Read more