Steveawiggins

LATEST ARTICLES ( 4139 )

• Loving It

  

  Given my remarks on occasion, some readers may conclude I dislike science. Nothing could be further from fact. Ever since I was a child I’ve been fascinated by... Read more

  Posted on 04 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Legend Quest

  

  ing is often considered a teenage pastime. Getting away from the mundane, or the oppressively normal, such road trips often lead to a place of spiritual... Read more

  Posted on 03 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Supernatural Quest

  

  Two things we’re told about the supernatural: one, it doesn’t exist and two, it can’t be studied. Of course the vast majority of people in the world don’t buy... Read more

  Posted on 02 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Uisce Beatha

  

  The idea of a state church, I have to admit, sometimes seems not so bad. Before you click off this page in disgust, please let me explain. Once in a great while... Read more

  Posted on 01 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• To the Tower

  

  A recent article in The Independent shows once again how deep our human need of magic can be. The Tower of London, among the oldest buildings in the city, and... Read more

  Posted on 31 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Anything Free

  

  “Anything free is worth saving up for.” That’s a bit of wisdom I picked up some time ago. There’s another side to free, however. That other side is called the... Read more

  Posted on 30 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Ordinary Magic

  

  The concept of grimoires, as well as being seasonal, has been on my mind as I finish up my paper for the Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting next... Read more

  Posted on 29 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Yes, Virginia, There Are Ghosts

  

  Universities find themselves in a strange position vis-à-vis the supernatural. I suspect that many institutions of higher education are slightly embarrassed at... Read more

  Posted on 28 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Still There?

  

  Keeping up with much of anything is hard to do, given work and commuting schedules. Often a horror movie will pass without even a notice until it’s on the sale... Read more

  Posted on 27 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• An Apple a Day

  

  Corporate logos are among the most instantly recognizable symbols in the world. Even in “developing” countries, kids know what the golden arches represent. Read more

  Posted on 26 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Playing God

  

  College is a rare time in life. Unlike any time after you find yourself with a diversity of intelligent and talented people open to possibilities that life tend... Read more

  Posted on 25 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• I Am Legacy

  

  The word “legacy,” I fear, is losing its meaning. Well, words really don’t having “meanings” as much as they have “usages,” but still you get my point. Read more

  Posted on 24 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Myth Making

  

  Beautiful.  Standing outside in the pre-dawn, looking up at the current alignment of Mars, Jupiter, and Venus in the east, I am struck by their presence.  The... Read more

  Posted on 23 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Pagan Religion

  

  Framing. Much of what we call “religion” has to do with framing. At one time it was standard practice to assume “pagan” was distasteful, if not downright evil. Read more

  Posted on 22 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Dakota Territory

  

  A few weeks back I found myself on the upper west side of Manhattan. This is a fashionable district in which to live, but back when the Dakota was built, as... Read more

  Posted on 21 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Babylonian Boogle

  

  I confess. I’ve fallen behind on my horror movies. My work schedule doesn’t allow for much down time, and on weekends when I spend time with family, well, horro... Read more

  Posted on 20 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Heaven Unawares

  

  In order to have this book fit my blog, I’ll begin with a spoiler alert. If you plan to read Cat Winters’ The Uninvited, I will be giving away information below. Read more

  Posted on 19 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• The State Demon

  

  It’s the time of year for seeing things. I suppose that’s why there have been two supposed sightings of the Jersey Devil flying around the internet this past... Read more

  Posted on 18 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Inventing Concepts

  

  A neologism is an invented word. Of course, it is impossible to be certain about the origins of many words, and even the many neologisms attributed to William... Read more

  Posted on 17 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Fundamental Fear

  

  Something truly scary landed on my desk. Working for an organization that has many different departments, there’s no way to know everyone. So when something... Read more

  Posted on 16 October 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY