News items from the past week include how Christians have sought to control women and sexuality, how anti-war sentiments get labeled as treasonous, evidence that supporters of Intelligent Design know that it is biblically based, the nonsense behind hypnotism, the similarities between France and America, and more.

Controlling Women, Controlling Sexuality
An important basis of the Christian Right's assault on modernity is its concern with sexuality, sexual education, and people's sexual behavior. This isn't just one feature of an assault on modernity; instead, it is in many ways a central foundation for everything they see as wrong with the modern world. This has been true since the very beginning of American fundamentalism.

Religious Violence & Terrorism Around the World
Terrorism and violence can be found in religions and cultures all around the world. Although there may be variation in the complaints being made, there are remarkable similarities in the attitudes and tactics employed by religious terrorists. This is due in part to the fact that violent behavior is independent of religion, but also to the ways in which religions are similar to each other.

Anti-War Sentiments as Treason
If it's not possible to whip people up into a frenzy of support for a war, it may be enough for the government to so denigrate anti-war positions that people will be pro-war by default. If anti-war beliefs are valid, then they might attract greater support; if they are perceived as invalid or perhaps treasonous, then people will avoid any association with them out of fear at the very least.

Polygamy in Turkey
Interesting perspective

Republican Values
Past and Future of the GOP

Intelligent Design: a Biblically-Based Position
Even supporters recognize this

Jeb Bush Opposes Evolution in Schools
No surprises here...

Hypnosis, Recovered Memories, and False Memories
Separating truth & fiction

Sex, Violence, and American Family Values
What matters most?

French Exceptionalism
France as Light of the World

 

Book Reviews:

1) God vs. the Gavel: Religion and the Rule of Law
Religion is not an unmitigated good. Although religion can do some good for people, religion can also be used as a cover for crimes - or merely for what is otherwise a naked grab for power. Unfortunately, too many people act as though religion is always positive. This allows them to defend the idea that the demands of religious conscience and religious organizations should trump civil laws and government regulations - even if no other groups get the same privilege.

2) How to Read the Bible: History, Prophecy, Literature
The Bible is one of the most important and influential books in Western civilization; despite this, few people have much detailed knowledge of it or even know how to read it properly. This is partly due to a decline in classical education, but also partly to a failure of religious leaders to teach people how to approach the text properly. Unfortunately, the prospects for improvement are poor.

3) For God And Country: Faith and Patriotism Under Fire
Is America's 'war on terrorism' really a war against extremism and on behalf of democracy, or is it instead a war on Islam? Americans insist that their concern is political, not religious, but there are good reasons to believe that even if this is true, the rhetoric and conduct of Americans is turning the war on terrorism into a war on Islam. Why else are Muslims targeted because of their religion? Why else is religion used as a weapon and tool of abuse?