AWOL shared a link to the Virtual Magic Bowl Archive, which features photos taken by Matthew Morgenstern, I believe. The practice of making and using magic bowls is something that Jews and Mandaeans in Mesopotamia shared in common. Read more
AWOL shared a link to the Virtual Magic Bowl Archive, which features photos taken by Matthew Morgenstern, I believe. The practice of making and using magic bowls is something that Jews and Mandaeans in Mesopotamia shared in common. Read more
I used to talk disdainfully about the Mormon practice of baptism for the dead. Taking an obscure reference in one of Paul’s letters and developing it into a doctrine seemed to me very dubious. I’m still not persuaded that the LDS church has understood what Paul was referring to correctly. But I have a new-found appreciation for this doctrine of theirs, which essentially leads them as a community to investigate and appreciate family history. It has been a while since... Read more
The episode begins with the iconic eye, but it is Jack’s eye in a flashback. The phrase “we’ve gotta go back” is used – this time by Boone, referring to a woman (Joanna) who was swimming and ended up drowning. Jack catches a glimpse of the apparition of his father again, this time close enough to get a look and see that it is his father. It is worth reflecting on how this relates to later seasons, and the revelation... Read more
A recent comment on a post of mine related to homosexuality sparked a realization related to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis. On the one hand, what conservatives do in making that story into ammunition against homosexuals is disturbing enough. There is no reference anywhere to the people of that city having had the custom of engaging in same sex relations prior to divine judgment coming upon them – that is something they add. Indeed, texts which mention... Read more
HT Hemant Mehta, PZ Myers, and IO9. Read more
This episode began poignantly with a close-up of John Locke’s eye, mirroring the start of the pilot, and hinting at the comparisons and contrasts between the two Johns that would characterize much of the series. A religious focus comes to the fore as boars get into the fuselage to get at the corpses. When Jack suggests burning them, Sayid objects, saying that it shows no respect for their wishes, their religion. Jack says we don’t have time to figure out... Read more
Via @!$! Academics Say on Facebook Read more
A student made a reference in an assignment to “revolting Canaanites.” From the context, I am quite sure that this was supposed to be “rebelling Canaanites” and not a subjective judgment on the Canaanites themselves. But I sure did find it amusing! It seems that “revolting” is considered by some to be a legitimate way of expressing “engaging in revolt,” while other dictionaries only indicate that it means “disgusting.” Do you use “revolting” in both ways? Picture from Wargames Foundry Read more
There’s a call for abstracts for chapters for a multi-author volume, which I know I’m interested in offering a proposal for, if I think I can find the time to write it by the deadline. It is for The Ultimate Star Trek and Philosophy. The “X and Philosophy” books are delightful. I love the subtitles many of them have – for instance, Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant (Popular Culture and Philosophy). The proposals for the new, ultimate version... Read more
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