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 ( 4108 )
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Banned Truth
Banned Book Week is one of my favorite holidays. Don’t worry—you haven’t missed it—it occurs the final week of this month. I’m not very good, however, at... Read more
Posted on 08 September 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Behind Left Behind
Now that September’s here, we can begin thinking back over the summer, scratch our heads, and say “huh?” We’ve been so blinded by the Trump that we haven’t had... Read more
Posted on 07 September 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Viewpoints
I first heard of feminism in seminary. Growing up as a poor, uneducated fundie in a small town, where would I have learned about it? I came to it naturally,... Read more
Posted on 06 September 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Day Labor
It’s difficult to believe in Labor Day. Don’t get me wrong—I’m glad for the day off. It’s just that I don’t think people really believe in the idea any more. Read more
Posted on 05 September 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Becoming the Past
Back home for a flying visit over the final dregs of the summer, I find myself in a hotel in my hometown. It’s an odd place to be. Read more
Posted on 04 September 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Zoo Or Farm?
It comes as no surprise, I hope, that I read lots of fiction. While not every book I read makes it onto this blog, a good many of them do, along with some I... Read more
Posted on 03 September 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Mysterium Tremendum
For those of us accustomed to ancient things, horror movies are remarkably new. That doesn’t mean, however, that they are scarce or even easy to understand. Read more
Posted on 02 September 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Finite Gods
Just how many gods are there, anyway? Well, that’s not really a fair question. For one thing, do I mean “real gods” or gods that people believe in? Do I mean... Read more
Posted on 01 September 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Twitter Me This
Techoncrat I’m not. At least I understand that to be authentic in this world you need to be on social media. I have a Twitter account. Have had for years. Read more
Posted on 31 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Evolving in Place
Envy is not a word I would use to describe how I feel about those trying to piece together the earliest stages of humanity. Evolution, naturally, is a given.... Read more
Posted on 30 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
The Neighborhood
Let me send out a warm welcome to the neighborhood, I think. Not that I officially represent Earth—or anything for that matter. I’m just friendly, I guess. Read more
Posted on 29 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Imagining Monsters
All fiction writing, it is often said, is borrowing. I’m not exactly sure that’s literally true, but the basic idea is that writers often trade with one another. Read more
Posted on 28 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Eye of Survivor
I don’t watch television. This isn’t any kind of moral stance. It’s financial. We can’t afford any “triple play” plans for the little free time we have for... Read more
Posted on 27 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Take Your Time
Reading is fundamental. Those of us who grew up hearing that slogan have never forgotten it. The part that I wish had stuck better is just a touch shorter:... Read more
Posted on 26 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Not Quite Dead
Extinction is a cause of fear. Having evolved a certain level of self-aware consciousness, we fear becoming the next tyrannosaurus-rex or spinosaurus, or... Read more
Posted on 25 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Of the Night
August isn’t too early to start thinking about vampires. The nights are already noticeably longer than they were in June and some leaves are just beginning to... Read more
Posted on 24 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Foiled Again
Few things travel as well as curses. Or so it seems in a news report from Serbia. Archaeologists in Kostolac, according to The Guardian, have excavated skeleton... Read more
Posted on 23 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Personal Heroes
I’m not inclined toward hero worship. Sometimes I think it must be a personality flaw on my part. The cult of celebrity is so pervasive that I feel desperately... Read more
Posted on 22 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Simply Complex
What does it mean to be a man? Or a woman? Or intersex? As a society we seem to spend quite a lot of political time thinking about this. We want to regulate... Read more
Posted on 21 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Mars Bars
It brings tears to my eyes. A little guy millions of miles from home. The only spark of acknowledged intelligence on the entire planet. It’s his birthday and... Read more
Posted on 20 August 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY