Religion, SF, and Other Speculative Fictions.


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Entries from November 2008

Blogging for Choice 2008: Why It’s Important to Vote Pro-Choice

January 22nd, 2008 · by xJane · 2 Comments

It’s that time of year again: time for me to co-opt John’s blog & flood it with links (hopefully) from feminists. Welcome, feminists!
This year’s topic, and I’m really glad they give us topics, is Why It’s Important to Vote Pro-Choice.
My response is that the personal is the political. It’s a tired feminist line but one […]

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Tags: Activism · Blogging · Carnivalia · Current Events · Feminism

NPR Links of the Week

January 21st, 2008 · by xJane · No Comments

NPR reported today that insurers are trying to take climate change into account as they make risk calculations.
This is close to my heart because I really think that an economic accounting of natural resources and forces are necessary to facilitate an understanding to those who seem to to be able to understand the gravity of […]

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Tags: Current Events · Environment · Fantasy

Public Displays

January 21st, 2008 · by xJane · 5 Comments

I have a new co-worker, who’s a very large blonde man. He has a surprisingly high-pitched voice for his size, and he wears a giant cross. All the time. He has quite a number of them, too, so just when it’s faded into the background of how-he-looks, a new one appears, this one made of […]

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Tags: Atheism · Belief · Christianity · Church and State · Getting over Religion

Your Religion got in my Science Fiction!

January 20th, 2008 · by John · 8 Comments

It looks like my professor is going to approve my independent study on religion and science fiction!
I am faced with an embarrassment of riches: even after I cut out fantasy and limit myself to predominantly literary SF (no Star Trek or Babylon V), I’ve still got way too much. It seems the genre gives […]

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Tags: Religion · Science Fiction and Fantasy

Leaving the Garden: John’s Journey

January 18th, 2008 · by John · 6 Comments

Note: This is the third in a weekly series in which we ask someone to reflect on their journey from religious conviction to uncertainty, from dogmatism to doubt. Religion is filled with stories of faith; here we will collect narratives of unbelief. It is my hope that Leaving the Garden will give voice to a […]

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Tags: Humanism · Leaving the Garden

New Year’s Ritual

January 18th, 2008 · by xJane · No Comments

As a recovering Catholic-cum-Pagan-Atheist, I’m constantly making my own rituals. I feel the need for ritual in my life, but often don’t feel that the rituals of my parents mean anything to me.
A few years ago, I discovered a catalogue that alleged to be filled with products “by women for women”. I’ve gotten some great […]

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Tags: Getting over Religion · Meditation & Prayer · Personal · Ritual

42

January 17th, 2008 · by xJane · 15 Comments

Ever since we first invaded Afghanistan & Iraq, I’ve seen these “War is not the answer” bumper stickers. I like the sentiment, even if I may not always agree with it. As I’ve said before, I’m not and probably could never be a non-violent person. But there are extremes to every situation. I’m not one […]

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Tags: Current Events · Pacifism · Peace; conflict resolution. · Politics · Reason · Science Fiction and Fantasy

Why Christianity is a Polytheistic Religion

January 17th, 2008 · by John · 9 Comments

And I’m not even going to touch the Holy Trinity.
Christianity is broad enough to encompass different gods, including the following:

A distant god who took the cosmic equivalent of an extended coffee break while leaving the Bunsen burners going under his/her grand experiment.
A big cheery Santa Claus of a god who has an army of elves […]

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Tags: Atheism · Belief · Christianity · Gods · Religion

Tom Cruise on Scientology: The Banned Video

January 15th, 2008 · by John · 13 Comments

Anyone who’s read Mind on Fire for awhile knows that I consider censorship to be one of the Great Evils, up there with killing small furry creatures and willfully making squeaky sounds with Styrofoam containers.  So it should come as no surprise to you to know that Scientology is not one of my favorite institutions.
It’s […]

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Tags: Current Events · Scientology

the Sarah Connor Chronicles

January 15th, 2008 · by xJane · 2 Comments

One of my absolute favorite (current) actresses is Summer Glau, the fantastic & freaky major character from Firefly and Serenity. So, when I heard she was a (good) terminator in a new Terminator, I was tres excited. This seemed to be right up my alley. Too bad I’d never seen any of the series (although […]

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Tags: Current Events · Feminism · Science Fiction and Fantasy