Steveawiggins
MY BLOGS
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Sects and Violence in the Ancient World
http://sawiggins.wordpress.com/
A blog that tries to find intelligent things to say about religion and related subjects.
LATEST ARTICLES ( 4153 )
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Who’s Stalking?
Television is a hungry beast. Back before the internet it was probably less hungry, but still the desire for content was constant. A few individuals worked the... Read more
Posted on 01 June 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Going Once, Going Twice
Do you ever get that feeling that you’ve been sold? One thing I learned early on in academic publishing is that buyouts aren’t that unusual. Read more
Posted on 31 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Unidentified
Some topics are subject to ridicule. The poster child for this is UFOs. What’s so remarkable about Leslie Kean’s book is that she began as a skeptic. Read more
Posted on 30 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Leopard Spots
There’s always a dilemma involved. Rent or buy? Libraries face this when deciding on a subscription or perpetual access deal—is this something you’ll need for... Read more
Posted on 29 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Free Cookies
The principle is a simple one. People, being what they are, want more than just a nibble of something good. Bakers know that giving away a free cookie... Read more
Posted on 28 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
No Demons
There’s a connoisseurship about it. Making bad films, that is. It’s a wonder that Night of the Demon—I should specify 1980 as the year—hasn’t really become a... Read more
Posted on 27 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Saint Material
Miracles don’t often make the New York Times. The Gray Lady was reluctant to release stories about verified UFO cases, for crying out loud. But the story about ... Read more
Posted on 26 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
To Their Own Devices
This one’s so good that it’s got to be a hoax. One of the upsides to living under constant surveillance is that a lot of stuff—weird stuff—is caught on camera.... Read more
Posted on 25 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Demons and Gremlins
Gremlins have an ancient pedigree, whether they know it or not. Credited with airplane problems during the Second World War, these meddlers in technology had... Read more
Posted on 24 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Okay, Look Now
When you think of Daphne du Maurier’s film adaptations, Alfred Hitchcock probably pops to mind. He shot Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, and The Birds, based on her works. Read more
Posted on 23 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Politicking
It was weird seeing my face on a 27 x 40 poster. When I went to give my campaign speech I was wearing dress clothes that I’d bought at Goodwill. Read more
Posted on 22 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Tech Warning
My moon roof is open. That’s what the late-night alert says. Thing is, I don’t have a moon roof. Maybe I should go out to the garage and check, just to be... Read more
Posted on 21 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Not Murphy’s Mansion
One of the dangers of streaming is that you can be talked into a movie by the fact of its availability. Curiosity drove me to Disney’s The Haunted Mansion... Read more
Posted on 20 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Six-Hundred and Sixty-Six
I have to confess to never having read a biography of Aleister Crowley. I’ve known of him since I was a teenager, however, since you can’t read very much... Read more
Posted on 19 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Forgotten Books
Would you rather never write a book or write a book that’s easily forgotten? This question springs from a recent exercise of trying (unsuccessfully) to count... Read more
Posted on 18 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Price Drop
Here’s a public service announcement for your Friday. If you’ve been wanting to read Holy Horror but found the price too high, McFarland has now lowered the... Read more
Posted on 17 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Why Weenie?
Often I ponder how incredibly influential Frankenstein has been. Even those who don’t care for horror instantly recognize the creature and what he represents.... Read more
Posted on 16 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
The Movie Maker
Roger Corman has died. So passes an era. I’ve always had an appreciation for the speculative films of the fifties and sixties. Many of these involved low... Read more
Posted on 15 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Writ Small
I have a loupe on my desk. Two, in fact. I bought them for examining rocks up close, but they have other usages. The other day I wanted to post a comment on ... Read more
Posted on 14 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Downtowns
I recently wrote about the movie Peeping Tom. I mentioned a scene, particularly creepy, where a news agent sells a girl a candy bar after selling an older man... Read more
Posted on 13 May 2024 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY