Steveawiggins

LATEST ARTICLES ( 4575 )

• Atlanta Bound

  

  Every year as the latter half of November rolls around, the mind of religion scholars goes toward the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical... Read more

  Posted on 20 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• As Others Think

  

  As analysts step in where angels fear to tread, we have been given expert opinion on why ISIS’s terror in France was counterproductive to its goals. Read more

  Posted on 19 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• All for Naught

  

  Philosophy, it used to be said, was the handmaid to theology. According to some among the scientific establishment the whole lot should be thrown out, baby, bat... Read more

  Posted on 18 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Ports of Call

  

  “Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale,” so began far too many evenings of my childhood. Well, although as an adult it may seem that the time was ill-spent... Read more

  Posted on 17 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Apocalypse When?

  

  We want to understand what worms through the mind of terrorists, and yet we don’t want to be bothered with religion. For decades universities have been... Read more

  Posted on 16 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• City of Lights

  

  As the civilized world struggles to make sense over the senseless attacks of ISIS in Paris, the question of where to turn emerges. An attack has taken place.... Read more

  Posted on 15 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Matins

  

  At a certain time of year, around November after the time change, early morning immigrants to Manhattan see the light. As they stumble out of the Port... Read more

  Posted on 14 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Monsters, in Theory

  

  I want to understand monsters. I suppose that’s pretty common among Monster Boomers, but the thing is academics have been slow to give credence to our creatures. Read more

  Posted on 13 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Imagining Things

  

  Having a child in college is one way for me to stay attuned to popular culture. You can absorb quite a lot by simply paying attention while on campus. Read more

  Posted on 12 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Make Believer

  

  My brother is way cooler than I ever hope to be. While I was busy learning all a tween and teen could about the Bible, he was listening to Lou Reed and David... Read more

  Posted on 11 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Shipmates

  

  Ghosts have a way of persisting. I’ve had Valerie Martin’s The Ghost of the Mary Celeste on my reading list since I first saw it in hardcover on a bookstore... Read more

  Posted on 10 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Upgrade Downgrade

  

  I don’t have to have the latest toys. In fact, I am happy to stay with what I have as long as it works. I’ve been a frugal lad all my life. The increasing... Read more

  Posted on 09 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Burden of Democracy

  

  Speaking of revisionist history, I see that I’m negligent on updating my Egyptology. In a year when you need an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of the sheer... Read more

  Posted on 08 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Revisionist History

  

  I recently came across a website with academic papers available on it.  Although the internet has yet to achieve its promise as a locus of solid academic... Read more

  Posted on 07 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Think Bigger

  

  I’ve spent a lot of time with academics. Having been one myself, I know something of their habits. Getting through a doctoral program involves, at least in... Read more

  Posted on 06 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Northern Ghosts

  

  It is the time of year when respectable publications can, in a half-serious way, address the unconventional. The New York Times, for example, recently ran a... Read more

  Posted on 05 November 2015 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• 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