S. Brent Plate coined the word in a recent article about a new TV show, The Leftovers. It refers to the use of expectations of a rapture of the end of the world to mentally terrorize people. Read more
The quote comes from Eddie Arthur’s post “Poverty Simply Explained” (which also quotes from Terry Pratchett’s novel Men at Arms). Read more
As one person guessed, I am in Vienna for the International Society of Biblical Literature conference. Here are some photos from around the city today: Next to Beethoven's piano, in the building where he composed works such as the 5th symphony and Fuer Elise. Read more
Via Rebecca Trotter. Does anyone know the actual precise source of the quotation? Read more
Internet Monk shared the image below depicting how religious affiliations change or remain the same, as well as some thoughts on the comparison someone recently made between modern Evangelicalism and Caffeine Free Diet Coke. It made me think that the image below has the makings of a religious cola label of some sort. Since I am traveling, I don't have a way to tinker with the image, but if others do, feel free to share your “labels.” Read more
A poster from Slingshot Publishing, which has a lot of familiar information, some problematic information (which ones can you spot?), but some things that are probably new to anyone who happens to read this. Is there anyone out there who already knew (or knew better than) all the details on this infographic? Read more
A recent online article by Giulo Prisco drew attention to the fact that Octavia Butler’s fictional religion Earthseed (a major focus in her novel Parable of the Talents) has apparently inspired the creation of a real-life religion based on it. This new religion, Terasem, is intended to recall “Earthseed” although the article reflects some confusion about what language is being drawn on to make the name. Presumably “Earthseed” itself is copyrighted, although sometimes people like the mystery that is created... Read more
The cartoon above by David Hayward depicts what ought to be considered blasphemy by anyone who is a monotheist. The idea that there is one supreme God, but that that God can be constrained by or domesticated into conformity with a collection of human writings, is inherently self-contradictory. No wonder so many conservative Christians worship the Bible. It allows them the illusion that an untamable ultimate supreme reality is understood and manageable. Read more
Select your answer to see how you score.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In