Religion, SF, and Other Speculative Fictions.


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Entries from October 2008

Overheard at Lunch Yesterday

November 27th, 2007 · by xJane · No Comments

Male Stranger: Ma’am, I’m Muslim.
Female Stranger: That’s okay, we’re all god’s children.
She then continued with many “god bless you”s and eventually managed to convince this man (through sheer force of pressing it upon him) to try out as a Tenor for her church choir.
I’m going to make a few assumptions here: that she and her […]

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Tags: Atheism · Religion

Picture of the Iranian Women’s Volleyball Team

November 27th, 2007 · by John · 1 Comment

No butt-hugging short shorts here–they’re covered from head to toe, but they’re still playing.

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Tags: Islam · Women

Evolutionary Discussion

November 26th, 2007 · by xJane · 4 Comments

Twice a year, when my NPR station has its fundraising drives, I switch over to the local socialist network, to remind myself that I’m really not that liberal…Also, whenever I’m at my parents’ or my sisters’, I read their right-wing magazines & newspapers. Both of these, I feel, help remind me that not everyone thinks […]

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Tags: Creationism · Getting over Religion · Media and Design

Taking the Plunge Pledge

November 26th, 2007 · by xJane · No Comments

It’s that time of year again: the time of year that I studiously avoid my sewing desk like the plaque (xJane discovers “strike through”) plague. Last year I managed to avoid it so (sew?) studiously that my mother’s xmas gift was completed in the car on the way from LA to SEA. That was unfortunate.
I’ve […]

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Tags: Blogging · Environment · Personal

Dalai Lama May Break with Tradition and Appoint Own Successor

November 26th, 2007 · by John · 2 Comments

Originally uploaded by MatthewBradley
From AP (via BeliefNet):
“The Tibetan people would not support a successor selected by China after my death,” the Dalai Lama was quoted as saying on a trip to Japan by the Sankei Shimbun, a national daily.
“If the Tibetan people wish to uphold the Dalai Lama system, one possibility would be to select […]

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Tags: Buddhism · China · Tibet

Intelligent Design on Trial

November 25th, 2007 · by John · 2 Comments

Nova has a special on the Dover, Pennsylvania ID controversy (hat tip to Rich–thanks!) The entire two hour show is split into 12 episodes for viewing on the web.
I have to admit that I’m more familiar with the politics than the science behind intelligent design. It seems that it is being pushed almost […]

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Tags: Christianity · Creationism · Current Events

Mind on Fire’s New Editorial Vision.

November 25th, 2007 · by John · 2 Comments

I find it helpful to think about my connection to Mormonism like a relationship with a former lover–a sometimes overbearing, demanding and perhaps abusive partner who was also often sweet and supportive. The long-lasting affair was complicated, but in the end, it was good for me to move on.
This metaphor also helps me to […]

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Tags: Site-related

The Power of the Small

November 25th, 2007 · by xJane · 1 Comment

I feel privileged to live in the same world as this girl. Haley Gee is a 9 year old who, upon hearing of the oil spill in NorCal, took up a collection at her school. She managed to raise only about a hundred dollars, but presented it proudly to the International Bird Rescue Research Center. […]

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Tags: Current Events · Environment · Feminism

Review: the Golden Compass

November 25th, 2007 · by xJane · 1 Comment

I just got back from a screening of the movie the Golden Compass. My initial reaction: it was briskly paced (for a 2 hr movie) and reminds me of the very first HP. If you read and enjoyed the book, you’ll like the movie, because it’s basically an illustration of the book, rather than a […]

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Tags: Atheism · Movie Reviews

Gd, yt? Awsum! nm, kthxbai.

November 25th, 2007 · by John · 1 Comment

Jana just sent me this link (it’s from 2002, but it’s new to me, and hopefully to you) to a 160 character, text-messagized version of the Lord’ Prayer. This was the winning submission of a contest sponsored by Ship of Fools Magazine:
dad@hvn,ur spshl.we want wot u want&urth2b like hvn.giv us food&4giv r sins lyk […]

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Tags: Bible · Humor · lolCats