Steveawiggins

LATEST ARTICLES ( 4660 )

• One Day Or Another

  

  Although normally a time for celebration, Mardi Gras, I’m told, was subdued this year. Today is Ash Wednesday but many of us feel like we’ve been living a year... Read more

  Posted on 17 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Call It Therapy

  

  For many years, about all I ever pursued, research-wise, was ancient Near Eastern studies. It’s still the reason people visit my Academia.edu page. Read more

  Posted on 16 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Leadership

  

  After four years it finally feels safe again. We can celebrate Presidents’ Day, although now and forever with some trepidation. Read more

  Posted on 15 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Love Or Saints?

  

  Photo by Jamie Street on UnsplashOne of the many oddities of life at Nashotah House was that we never celebrated St. Valentine. Read more

  Posted on 14 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Many Moons

  

  Scientists, often with their base matrix bound up with the local religion, are frequently interested in myth. And sometimes religion too. This is no surprise. Read more

  Posted on 13 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Meanness

  

  There’s often a meanness to literalist religions. A sense that if they can keep their particular interpretation of God’s will, then anybody can. No compassion.... Read more

  Posted on 12 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Religions and Horrors

  

  My latest piece on The Golem has just appeared on Horror Homeroom. It’s free—check it out. In it I briefly discuss Jewish horror. I mainly write about... Read more

  Posted on 11 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• No Go Subjects

  

  The problem with being eclectic is that you never catch up with everything. Although I was once a professor of Hebrew Bible—not technically the field in which... Read more

  Posted on 10 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Animal Spirituality

  

  I had little scientific basis for my claims. It wasn’t that I didn’t have evidence, but it was more one of those “if you see something say something” kinds of... Read more

  Posted on 09 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Book Birthing

  

  Books, like humans and other animals, undergo a process of conception, development, and birth. It may seem, when holding a book in hand, that it is the... Read more

  Posted on 08 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• How Clean Is Your Brain?

  

  First it was in. Then it was out. Now nobody seems to be sure. “Brainwashing” isn’t really a scientific term, but human suggestibility is very well in... Read more

  Posted on 07 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Gothic Dreams

  

  There’s something that compels a large number of people to consume material in the horror genre. Whether it takes the form of movies, books, or music, it is a... Read more

  Posted on 06 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Christian Nationalisms

  

  Ongoing analysis of the Capitol Riots continues as footage of the event is scrutinized. Although the press is puzzled, those who study religion—underfunded and... Read more

  Posted on 05 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Gothic Celts?

  

  Two separate projects lately set me on the trail of preliterate Europe. While this isn’t the best time to celebrate white cultures (timing has never been an... Read more

  Posted on 04 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Ode to Snow Days

  

  Once upon a time there were special gifts called “snow days.” On these special days no one was required to report to school or work. Read more

  Posted on 03 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• February Festivities

  

  One of the more commonly overlooked holiday complexes comes around Groundhog Day. It may seem strange to be thinking about spring right now, but it’s on... Read more

  Posted on 02 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Growing in Intent

  

  Balance has become a desideratum. Ours is an age of extremism. Black and white instead of shades of gray. One of the unnecessary polarizations is that between... Read more

  Posted on 01 February 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Contains Cookies

  

  In the early days of this blog I used to get regular reactions from other bloggers. This was back before I started the long commute to New York City and when I... Read more

  Posted on 31 January 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Mittens and Circuses

  

  Bernie Sanders, since we’re now making up our own facts, clearly won this election. Or at least the inauguration. An inescapable meme of Sanders, bundled up wit... Read more

  Posted on 30 January 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY

• Bookstore Odyssey

  

  Work isn’t the best place to express yourself. Once a marketer asked for input from everyone concerning their favorite independent bookshop. Well, I might’ve... Read more

  Posted on 29 January 2021 POLITICS, RELIGION, SOCIETY