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 ( 4123 )
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Blood Brothers
Every once in a while I take a chance and write about music. I don’t do this too often since it’s a very personal thing, and as open as I may be on this blog,... Read more
Posted on 01 May 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Trusting Truth
How do we know what’s true? For many the answer is what your experience reveals. If that experience involves being raised as a Bible-believer, that complicates... Read more
Posted on 30 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Independent Bookstore Day
Many modern mini-holidays are centered around things you might buy. I don’t mind that so much in the case of Independent Bookstore Day—of which I wish you a... Read more
Posted on 29 April 2017 CULTURE -
Dog Daze
I read quite a bit about animals. One reason is that when you’re counting all the species on the planet we’re pretty clearly among the animal part. Having... Read more
Posted on 28 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
The Labyrinth of Copyright
Here’s another post originating from my daily work as an editor. (As an editor you tend to assume nobody’s really interested in what you do all day, but I’ve... Read more
Posted on 27 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Occam’s Beard
Skeptics can be so much fun. We really do need them, otherwise we’d likely still be living with notions of medical science being attributed to four humors,... Read more
Posted on 26 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Frankly Frankenstein
As a novel, like its monster, Frankenstein trespasses all kinds of boundaries. Is it science fiction or horror? Is it Gothic or presciently modern? Is it... Read more
Posted on 25 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Science Marches On
A few thoughts about the March for Science in Manhattan over the weekend seem to be in order. To get to the rally in time, from our little corner of New... Read more
Posted on 24 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Happy World Book Day
In times of distress, as well as of joy, I turn to books. Since about November there have been more of the former than the latter, so I’m cheered that today is... Read more
Posted on 23 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Earth Vs. the GOP
They used to call her “Mother Earth.” Now she’s simply a commodity to be liquidated into cash at the country club where rich white men play. That’s why I’m... Read more
Posted on 22 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Beautiful Beast
Like most kids in America I grew up with some form of Disney. We couldn’t afford to see many movies, but those we could often originated from the acknowledged... Read more
Posted on 21 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Stamp Collecting
Like most awkwardly shy children, I used to collect stamps. Even today a bright one will catch my attention although it’s been years since I actively sought the... Read more
Posted on 20 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Witching Well
Salem, Massachusetts, brings to mind images of intolerance and a culture ossified in superstition. That’s not really fair, of course. Read more
Posted on 19 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Russian Watchtower
From time to time I’ve good-naturedly poked fun at the Watch Tower Society members who used to visit with some frequency. I don’t belittle anyone’s belief... Read more
Posted on 18 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Who Knows What?
Nobody likes to have their shortcomings pointed out. I suspect that’s why many people might find Tom Nichols’ The Death of Expertise: The Campaign against... Read more
Posted on 17 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Come Together
Although today is Easter for some, for many it generally isn’t. And I don’t mean just those who follow faiths outside Christianity. Read more
Posted on 16 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Ode to Hubris
One-hundred-five years ago today, one of modernity’s great achievements sank alone in the icy waters of the chilled North Atlantic. Read more
Posted on 15 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Death Challenged
Long before the Walking Dead, and even before Twilight or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, people took the undead seriously. Now, I know ratings are important (they... Read more
Posted on 14 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
To Whom?
The other day I heard someone use the phrase, “preaching to the converted.” I’ve read enough anthropology to know that regional variations on folk sayings exist... Read more
Posted on 13 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Publisher’s Breakfast
I recently had the opportunity to discuss publishing to a room full of academics. (Ooo, I can feel the envy rising already!) Although I discuss books quite... Read more
Posted on 12 April 2017 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY