THE SOMA REVIEW ONLINE EXCERPTS HEF’S TGF CHAPTER SoMA: A Review of Religion and Culture has posted Hugh Hefner’s chapter from The God Factor. You can find the whole SoMA Review posting HERE, but in the meantime, here’s their introduction to the chapter: May 16, 2006 Hef’s Spiritual Journey Did you know that Hugh Hefner regularly worships as strolls the grounds of the Playboy mansion? Or that, early in its history, Playboy offered a special discount subscription rate for ministers?... Read more

TODAY IN GOD . . . On May 15, 1252, Pope Innocent IV issues his Ad exstirpanda — a papal bull authorizing the use of torture to elicit confessions from heretics during the Inquisition — including burning heretics alive. (A rather off Day in God if you ask us.) Read more

“SNEAKING OUT THE BACK DOOR OF LILLIES BORDELLO” OR“SEE PAGE 7 OF THE GOD FACTOR” As we mentioned last week, Bono had a birthday. No. 46. And apparently, according to the nice lad at Showbizireland.com, yer man and Guggi (L) and Gavin (R) headed to the Dublin nightspot (and scene of the crime from page 7) for a wee celebration at the weekend. Quoth ShowbizIreland: ‘ShowBiz Ireland caught up with our old friend Bono and pals as they left Lillies... Read more

GOD GIRL ON AIR AMERICA TONITE! Cathleen will be a guest on Air America’s “State of Belief” program today, Sunday, May 14 (5-6 p.m. EST) with host Welton Gaddy. Listen live online HERE Here’s a little bit more about Welton and his Air America show, and a sneak preview of what we talked about: This Sunday’s State of Belief RadioBush’s Approval Rating Down, America’s Spirituality is Up Washington, May 11 – New polling data has debunked all previous assumptions about... Read more

QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, LETTERS, AND LISTENING . . . A REPORT FROM RAINY ANN ARBOR The last (and only) other time I was in Ann Arbor, Michigan, it was 1992. I was a college senior and two of my roommates and three of our boyfriends drove up from Wheaton to hear Bruce Cockburn play. Sam Phillips opened for him. It was a magical night. One that I’ve thought of often and with great fondness over the nearly 15 years that have... Read more

SORRY KIDS, NO COLUMN. BUT INSTEAD: GOD GIRL FRIDAY! ON CNN, FOXNEWSCHANNEL A flurry of last-minute activity just before Cathleen arrives in Ann Arbor, Michigan for an appearance with the amazing BRUCE COCKBURN at the Book Festival on Saturday: 2:20 p.m. (EST) FRIDAY on FoxNewsChannel: Cathleen will be interviewed live about The God Factor as well as a column she wrote a few months back about Oprah Winfrey and whether she’s become, ostensibly, “America’s pastor,” stepping into the kind of... Read more

COMING SOON TO A COMPUTER NEAR YOU … Beginning next week, two chapters from The God Factor will be available on two groovy Web sites: Cathleen’s profile of Sandra Bernhard will be excerpted on Beliefnet.com and her profile of Hugh Hefner will be posted on SoMA Review: A Review of Religion and Culture Read more

TODAY IN GOD . . . On May 10, 1960, at Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, Bob and Iris Hewson (nee Rankin) welcomed their second child, a baby boy. They named him Paul David. We call him Bono. “One of the best and most endearingly naked messianic complexes in rock ‘n’ roll.” — Bruce Springsteen In honor of yer man’s birthday, why not help him make poverty history? Happy 46th, B. Read more

SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY, MAY 13BRUCE COCKBURN AND GOD GIRL LIVE IN ANN ARBOR Singer-songwriter, peace activist, and all-around kick-ass Canadian rock god Bruce Cockburn will be joining Cathleen for a live “God Factor” interview at the Ann Arbor Book Festival. On the main Shaman Drum stage at 3 p.m. SATURDAY, MAY 13 For more information, click HERE UPDATE 5/10: The ever-charming Chicago Sun-Times and CBS-2 celeb columnist Bill Zwecker ran a great item about the Cockburn/Falsani event. Click here... Read more

“AND DAVID DANCED BEFORE THE LORD WITH ALL HIS MIGHT . . .” This pirated video of Edge (dude on the left in the black skull cap, sans ephod of linen) dancing in the wings last week at NOLA’s Jazz Fest (the band performing on stage is, appropriately enough, the New Birth Brass Band) makes me happy. Just because. Go white boy. Get your joy on . . .Beannacht De ort, beannacht De do iníon. Read more