Steveawiggins

LATEST ARTICLES ( 4660 )

• Buried Truths

  

  I owe a lot to fossils.  Growing up just a block from a fossil-laden river in western Pennsylvania, as a kid I’d go fossil hunting with my brothers.  They... Read more

  Posted on 30 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• The Persistence of Forgetfulness

  

  It has happened twice this past week.  Maybe you’ve noticed, but probably I’m presuming too much.  Last Sunday and Thursday past, there were no posts on this... Read more

  Posted on 29 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Fragility

  

  Who doesn’t like a play? Since I’ve been reading many lengthy novels this year I like to intersperse them with some shorter pieces of literature. Many of us... Read more

  Posted on 28 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Come Together

  

  When’s the last time a commercial made you cry?  Well, made you cry for joy?   A colleague sent me this commercial for chewing gum that left me nearly... Read more

  Posted on 26 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Outside Subjects

  

  As an erstwhile biblical scholar—the lines of time separating things are sometimes not easily discerned—I have to keep reminding myself to pay attention to thos... Read more

  Posted on 25 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Kafkaesque

  

  Although it’s a bit early—it’s never really too early—I just finished a banned book. One of the main reasons I do annual book challenges is to help keep myself... Read more

  Posted on 24 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Is This Contact?

  

  And speaking of the X-Files—but ah, I shouldn’t jest! In fact, I strongly advocate avoiding the ridicule response when a claim seems outlandish. Read more

  Posted on 22 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Out There

  

  Do you see them?While recently re-watching an X-Files episode, I noticed something odd. A quick online search revealed that I wasn’t the only one to notice... Read more

  Posted on 21 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• The Slippery Slope

  

  Maybe you store your data on an external drive.  Tech companies want you to put everything on the cloud, but I like to know where my data are.  The problem is... Read more

  Posted on 20 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Perhaps You’d Like…

  

  Back in the early days of the internet I recall wondering how it could be used for research.  I was teaching at Nashotah House at the time and knew of no... Read more

  Posted on 19 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Nihil Obstat

  

  Intolerance within religions has been on my mind lately.  Every religion has a history and the study of that history demonstrates that religious leadership... Read more

  Posted on 18 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• The Unholy Trio

  

  Culture has a powerful prophylactic component.  People don’t want to be seen questioning authority and accepted “truths.”  This is especially the case as they... Read more

  Posted on 17 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Feeling Bookish

  

  It does my soul good to attend a used book sale.  I recently attended one while on a visit to Ithaca.  Everyone was wearing a mask. Read more

  Posted on 16 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• You Have the Right to Remain

  

  It’s strange sitting in a meeting where you’ve written a book on the topic under discussion and nobody knows about it.  This is one of the problems of publishin... Read more

  Posted on 15 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Shunned

  

  Belonging is important for our species.  As much as some of us may be introverts, we still need other people.  Given the wide divisions of human interests and... Read more

  Posted on 14 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Looking In

  

  There’s a real danger to the lifelong study of religion.  Learning to look at any tradition from the point of view of an observer will create a sense of being o... Read more

  Posted on 13 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Our Stories

  

  People’s stories are interesting.  The received wisdom is that if you wish to change a politician’s mind, tell her or him a story.  In fact, it seems that... Read more

  Posted on 12 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Considering the Time

  

  Does anybody else find the name “Office 365” ominous?  Perhaps I’ve been reading too much about Orwell, but the idea that work is waiting for you every single... Read more

  Posted on 11 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Just Justice

  

  Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on UnsplashLike many people raised to believe in democracy, I’m distressed to see that the right wing, worldwide, has taken to... Read more

  Posted on 10 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Women and Mothers

  

  This is our first Mother’s Day with a female Vice President.  After four years of a female-groping administration, it feels like we’ve made a turn in the right... Read more

  Posted on 09 May 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY