This Week in "God"

Assorted stories about {insert appropriate god(s) here} -- or belief in {deity} -- from various sources. And not necessarily presented in chronological order.

Altared Spaces By Joseph Gallivan Issue date: Tue, Mar 7, 200 Enrique Ugalde goes down on one knee and scoops up a precious necklace. It was given to him after he studied with a Huichol peyote shaman from Mexico — not an easy guest list to get on. Ugalde leans in and places it on the top level of his three-tiered altar. A few minutes before, the altar was an old computer desk he found at the Goodwill bins for $10. First he covered the desk with a cloth he had lying around. Then he added a few glass-cased devotional candles and hid one of his surround-sound speakers underneath it. Sage smoke rises into the folds of the white parachute that covers his ceiling, and he gets to work... [ Full Story ]

100 Dublin priests accused of abuse since 1940 Owen Bowcott, Ireland correspondent Thursday March 09 2006 The Guardian 350 children in one archdiocese affected. Church may sell property to pay compensation. The full extent of child abuse scandals threatening the Roman Catholic church in Ireland has emerged in a study by the archdiocese of Dublin which reveals that more than 100 of its priests have faced paedophile accusations since 1940. [Full Story]

Witches return to German forests Mail&Guardian Online - 10 March 2006 04:40 PM Original Posting May 12, 2005 Walther Rosenberger | Berlin Witches have returned to the German forests, dancing naked in groups under the full moon and calling to their gods. The covens vary in size and in how seriously they take their calling, but the numbers are rising, particularly amongst the young. Their religious ideas are described as "pagan" rather than Satanist, and many of the older practitioners have a history in the environmental movement, where they learnt a passionate love of nature. In some cases this has led on to a belief in the natural powers of the forests. The women are convinced they can work magic. "The witches' scene is experiencing a powerful revival," says Lutheran theologian Hansjoerg Hemminger. He says the covens range from "girlie witches" to the so-called "Wicca" covens. Wicca is an old Anglo-Saxon term for a group of witches. Christian theologians are inclined to see the latter as a manifestation of a new heathen movement. The women tend to be members of associations like the Pagan Federation or the Stone Circle... [ Full Story ]

Put religion under the microscope Connected.telegraph Daniel Dennett Filed: March 7, 2006 Like other animals, humans have built-in desires to reproduce and to do pretty much whatever it takes to achieve this goal. But we also have creeds, religions and faith, and the ability to transcend our genetic imperatives. We often find human beings setting aside their personal interests, their health, their chances to have children, and devoting their entire lives to furthering the interests of an idea that has lodged in their brains. 'People may well have come to love religion independently of any benefits it provides them' This fact does make us different, but it is itself a biological fact, visible to natural science, and something that requires an explanation from natural science. How did just one species, Homo sapiens, come to have the extraordinary perspective that religions can give to people's lives? My view of the evolution of various features of religion is definitely just a theory or, rather, a family of proto-theories, in need of further development. In a nutshell, this is what it says: religion evolved, but it doesn't have to be good for us in order to evolve. (Tobacco isn't good for us, but it survives just fine.)... [ Full Story ]

Neighbors object to Scientologists' offer to buy 1912 building Charlie Goodyear, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, March 9, 2006 San Francisco's North Beach, the city's bohemian quarter, has said "no" to chain stores through zoning laws to preserve the quirky, colorful character found in its cafes, clothing shops, bookstores and nightclubs. Now, some merchants and the supervisor whose district includes North Beach are eyeing a new land-use restriction to block a real estate acquisition being considered by the Church of Scientology, whose religious marketing practices strike some as inconsistent with the neighborhood's live-and-let-live ways... [ Full Story ]

Friday Pet Blogging | iPurr

Today's pic is not a Photoshop bit. Mrs. Brainwise snapped an image of Otis behind the window screen, with the afternoon sun behind them both. Could this be an outtake from Otis' audition for the next iPod ad?

iPod ... iPurr ... Feline Fine!

Otis would like a Nano for his birthday, if anyone's keeping track.

More Pet Blogging See the Friday Ark, featuring a compilation of today's pet blogging posts, over at The Modulator. Check the M&O Archives for previous Milo & Otis appearances. Carnival of the Cats, coming at you every Sunday.

Could This Be Historical Four-Play?

Or is it a four-ay into the past? Maybe it's just me, but this seems like a story more suited to The Onion than The Daily Mail. Even the photo looks suspect to me. But I have to tell you ... I get tired just looking at them.

Time-warp family who walk on all fours by BEN FARMER, Daily Mail 08:31am 7th March 2006 An extraordinary family who walk on all fours are being hailed as the breakthrough discovery which could shed light on the moment Man first stood upright. Scientists believe that the five brothers and sisters found in Turkey could hold unique insights into human evolution... [ Read More ]

Be sure to keep an eye out for the documentary, called The Family That Walks On All Fours. According to this article, the program is supposed to air on BBC2 on Friday, March 17. As far as I can tell, my cable company doesn't carry the channel. So I am hoping someone here can help me out by taping the show for me.

The Loch Ness ... Elephant??

If anything, this just encourages more expeditions to the Loch.

Elephant theory in Nessie search BBC News Monday March 6, 2006 Unexplained sightings of the Loch Ness monster could have been elephants enjoying a swim, a scientist has said. Neil Clark, curator of palaeontology at Glasgow University's Hunterian Museum, spent two years researching Nessie. He said they could have been circus elephants, as fairs visiting Inverness would often stop on the banks of Loch Ness to give the animals a rest. The trunk and humps in the water would bear similarities to some of the most famous Nessie photographs... ...Asked whether he believed in the Loch Ness monster, Dr Clark said: "I do believe there is something alive in Loch Ness."... [ Read More ]

New Beastie!

Deep sea scientists have found discovered a new crustacean in the South Pacific that "was so distinct from other species that they created a new family and genus for it." You know what? I think I would be Running Scared if I saw this furry critter:

Man, does that thing look like it escaped from the prop table at Land of the Lost or what?

One Year Anniversary

My father-in-law passed from this world a year ago. The day after his passing, Prophet or Madman stood as a simple tribute to the man who raised my wife. In many ways, it feels like he never left. But in hundreds of subtle ways -- perhaps thousands or more for Mrs. Brainwise -- his absence is still painfully felt. But that is the way with grief. It is a journey with no end, but the bearing of it comes to be less and less of a burden as we work our ways through it. Carrying what we can, when we can, and asking others to share the burden when appropriate. So on this day, I salute my father-in-law and his life -- he was a good man who walked with honor. Dad, I raise you and your name up for all who have ears to hear:

Frið to you! Frið to your ancestors! And Frið to those you left behind!

Quotable

You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.

--Anne Lamott, writer (1954- )

This Week in "God"

Assorted stories about {insert appropriate god(s) here} -- or belief in {deity} -- from various sources. And not necessarily presented in chronological order. First up, armed students...

Supreme Court allows Sikh daggers in school By Randall Palmer Thu Mar 2, 12:32 PM ET OTTAWA (Reuters) Multiculturalism and religious freedom trumped safety concerns in a Canadian Supreme Court decision on Thursday that will allow orthodox Sikh students to carry traditional daggers to school. In its decision, the court noted that Sikh orthodoxy requires the wearing of the daggers, known as kirpans, even though they are banned from airplanes and some courtrooms.... [Full Story]

The kirpan is pictured here; and you can read about it and other Sikh requirements here and here (much more detail). I wonder if there are other groups who could make a case for carrying a blade as a religious obligation. For example, Heathens (AKA: Asatruar, Odinists, etc.) hold the writings of the Hávamál in high regard (Hávamál means "Sayings of Hár"or "Sayings of the high one"). And stanza 38 seems to advise people to go armed when going about their regular business:

Leaving in the field his arms, let no man go a foot's length forward; for it is hard to know when on the way a man may need his weapon.

The Hávamál, which is believed to have been written around 800CE, is far older than Sikhism, a fairly modern religion (500+ years). And the basic tenents and practices of Heathenry were well-established long before any of it was written down, which makes it older still. But I'm willing to bet that the Sikhs have a slight edge in Western courts if only because they are more established (read: "accepted") and because they are monotheists.

OK ... on to the next story! Updated 03/06/2006: Apparently, the original story was a hoax. Many thanks to Agora who posted a comment so that we could properly update this posting. We have more deadly zaniness regarding those dastardly Danish cartoons...

Cartoonist's Daughter Hunted bothered by 12 Jihadists 6 to 8 girls Agora (agora.blogsome.com) [Agora collects a bunch of entries regarding this story. Agnora has the full story here, and analysis here] "A group of Moslem males have tried to get at the daughter of one of the 12 cartoonists who drew the cartoons of Muhammed at her school. The political spokesman of the Liberals, Jens Rohde, revealed this during an interview with TV-Avisen while explaining his and the Prime Minister’s attack on the business community in Denmark, charging that they have put profits over Freedom of Speech." "Four weeks ago, 6-8 Moslem girls showed up at the school of the daughter of one of the cartoonists, asking for 'the daughter of the cartoonist who had insulted their prophet'. They were turned away at the door."

:::Sigh::: That's a really beautiful and peaceful reaction from adherents of a beautiful and peaceful religion. What?! A journalist was misquoting information and accidentally blamed Muslims for the whole thing? Hmmmmm ... does Jens Rohde work for the Bush Administration? (Oh, and my bad for my earlier comment on the misinformed story. I was duped too!)

And speaking of cartoons...

Radford University Campus cartoon draws backlash By GREG ESPOSITO, The Roanoke Times © February 28, 2006 Cartoons depicting Jesus in a Radford University online student magazine have created controversy just weeks after Danish cartoons of the P rophet Muhammad touched off violent protests throughout the Muslim world. In his "Christ on Campus" comic strip, sophomore Christian Keesee has satirized what he sees as the hypocrisy of some churchgoing students, the greed of some televangelists and the commercialization of Christmas, among other things, in 12 cartoons he's published on Radford's Whim Internet Magazine. He has made his points with images of a cartoon Jesus being stabbed by Santa Claus, playing poker with other religious figures - including Muhammad - and punching a heckler who referred to him as a "glorified Easter bunny." Those depictions have sparked anger among many students, both Christians and non-Christians, and concern among administrators... [Read More]

If you want to see those cartoons, click here. But only if you really, really want to see them. And only if you have something resembling a sense of humor. Oh, and only if you are not easily offended. And if you ignore all my warnings, and you get all offended after viewing them, please do not complain to me. Thanks. From one backlash to another ... Apparantly, some people in Nevada are so enamored of Intelligent Design that they want their constitution to legitimize (er, I mean, allow for the teaching of) it:

Nevada proposal raises evolution questions By Brendan Riley, Associated Press Writer CARSON CITY, Nev. --A proposed constitutional amendment would require Nevada teachers to instruct students that there are many questions about evolution -- a method viewed by critics as an opening to teach intelligent design... [Full Story]

Nevada is a bastion of hard science, right? Right??

And for our final story, we'll tone the rancor down a bit while an exile visits home...

Brother Thây: A Radio Pilgrimage with Thich Nhat Hanh Speaking of Faith by American Public Media March 2, 2006: Forcibly exiled from his native country, Thich Nhat Hanh is currently visiting Vietnam for the first time in nearly forty years. In 2003, Speaking of Faith took a radio pilgrimage with Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh at a Christian conference center in a lakeside setting of rural Wisconsin. Here, Nhat Hanh discusses the concepts of "engaged Buddhism," "being peace," and "mindfulness" with host Krista Tippett. Download (mp3, 53:18) | » Stream (RealAudio, 53:00) | » Podcast

Thanks for stopping by. Let me know if you like This Week in "God" ... and maybe I'll make it a regular thing.

Friday Pet Blogging | Radiating his Kingly Vibes

I don't think I've provided an update on Milo, who followed his brother's lead and needed PU surgery to correct his own urinary tract issues. But I'm happy to report that, for the most part, Milo is doing well. Aside from the shaved-fur evidence of scans and surgeries, doesn't he look simply regal atop that radiator?

Milo surveys his kingdom...

...And, lo, he deemed it good ... and then promptly took a nap!

Milo's fighting a slight infection right now, but at least he's not blocking.

More Pet Blogging See the Friday Ark, featuring a compilation of today's pet blogging posts, over at The Modulator. Check the M&O Archives for previous Milo & Otis appearances. Carnival of the Cats, coming at you every Sunday.

The Death of Handwriting?

Stuart Jeffries of the Guardian Unlimited ponders the rise of computers and email ... and what that might mean for handwriting: http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1709128,00.html Although I do have a few areas where I still exercise my handwriting prowess, I must admit that the majority of my own writing is heavily skewed to keyboard activities.