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 ( 4115 )
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Biological Imperative
Nothing used to make you feel smarter than being in a British bookstore. With that curious blend of proper, insane, and bawdy, books are displayed that you migh... Read more
Posted on 27 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Insane Deities
It was 1987. I was in Israel for a good part of the summer excavating at Tel Dor. Between degrees and trying what to do with my life, like many people, I... Read more
Posted on 26 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Cryptology 46
From Wikimedia CommonsFour centuries ago this year William Shakespeare died. In the literary world there have been lots of commemorations going on, and all the... Read more
Posted on 25 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Philosophies of Reading
I like my Starter. For those of you unaccustomed to New Jersey Transit buses and their ways, a Starter is a person who makes sure the buses scheduled to arrive... Read more
Posted on 24 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Prophetic Shaman
Don’t complain. So I’m told. Work with the system (i.e., the privileged), do your part, and most of all, don’t complain. What would Jeremiah do? Or any of the... Read more
Posted on 23 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Paraleipomenon
I suspect, like most people, I missed quite a few classics in school. This was the ’70’s when new and experimental were still the rage. One of the must-reads I... Read more
Posted on 22 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Industrial Revolution
Everything’s industry. It has haunted me for some years now that we’ve let our corporate greed run away with our imagination so that nothing but “industry”... Read more
Posted on 21 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Human, Nature
Someone recently told me that a city blocks a certain vibration that people draw from contact with the earth. I know that vibration often sets off “new age”... Read more
Posted on 20 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Business Beating
Politics is about power. Say what you will about the Bible, but at least they were clear about it in those days. Kings were alpha males, not public servants.... Read more
Posted on 19 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
World of Color
Albinism occurs across species. In human beings, suspicious and superstitious lot that we are, it’s sometimes an excuse for prejudice. I’ve confessed in the pas... Read more
Posted on 18 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
All Things Newton
Andover Newton Theological School is the oldest stand-alone graduate school of theology in the United States. Was, I should say. Read more
Posted on 17 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Stations, Everyone
There has been a movement, of late, among some sci-fi authors, to envision a more optimistic future. I have always been a fan of dystopias, myself. Read more
Posted on 16 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
:-d
Technology runs amok. I confess to being born before earthlings landed on the moon. I remember a world where Purelle boogers simply did not exist. Read more
Posted on 15 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
The Lure of the Dark Side
I have to confess that the easy self-publishing of ebooks is a real temptation sometimes. Perhaps it’s one of those inexplicable side-effects of earning a Ph.D. Read more
Posted on 14 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
New World Witches
One of the most coveted phenomena in the publishing world is the bad review. Controversy sells a book like nothing else. It wasn’t because of the controversy,... Read more
Posted on 13 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Commander in Heaven
I pity the nation that doesn’t have divine founders. Origin myths help to orient our thoughts about where we belong in the order of things. Given enough time,... Read more
Posted on 12 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Avoiding Ritual
While on my current British kick—not really intentional, but sometimes life gives you limes—I thought I’d mention another piece sent to me by a friend. Read more
Posted on 11 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Latin Lessons
The Romans are coming! The Romans are coming! No, wait. They were already here. Here, that is, if you’re European. And more specifically, a Londoner. Read more
Posted on 10 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Man’s Best Fiend
While reading the Hull Daily Mail (don’t ask), I came across an article entitled “Rock legend Alice Cooper ask questions about the Beast of Barmston Drain. Read more
Posted on 09 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY -
Moving Mountains
Just 200 years ago, there was a “year without a summer.” Well, that’s an exaggeration, but the name has stuck and is familiar to those of us with an undue... Read more
Posted on 08 June 2016 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY