During Obama’s recent visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, according to tradition, he wrote a prayer on a piece of paper and left it there. However, since he is under media scrutiny right now, it was stolen by a young seminary student (who should have known better!). While I disagree completely with its theft, […]

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Religious majorities are not allowing minorities to be buried in their graveyards. Fine on the outside, until one realizes that there is often only one (religious) graveyard serving a community.

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(It’s that time again – guest post from Zach time.)

(Image from Bloomsbury Auctions)
Lots of people are talking about a newly-surfaced letter by Einstein, which seems to clarify his ambiguous views on religion with the following strongly-worded statements:
The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a […]

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(Hello, this is Zach Alexander — you may have read my Leaving the Garden post, and this is the first of a few guest articles I’m posting while John is otherwise engaged.)

“The stuff that really brings people together, and makes us happy to live together, originates from a caring and thoughtful mind that’s been exposed […]

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I think that the discussion over at Isaac’s post deserves another forum. I’m very interested in y’all’s experiences (hat-tip to my Southern linguistic roots) experiences with baptism. When you were welcomed into your (current or any number of former) church, what was the ritual of welcoming? What did you think about it? Did you stand […]

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this was just shared with me today: my sister’s mother-in-law wishes everyone happy birthday for everyone’s birthday. This may either be a Dutch tradition, an Indonesian tradition, a Dutch-Indonesian tradition, or just the mother-in-law in question. So she calls my sister on her husband’s birthday and says “Happy your husband’s birthday!”
I think this is awesome […]

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When my husband went to Tibet with his father for his (the father’s) 60th birthday, they each brought me back a priceless gift. My husband brought a jewelry set that is precious to me because it signifies the moment that we both knew we would get married.
My father-in-law brought back a Buddhist mala made of […]

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I went to a few parties this weekend, certainly more than in a normal weekend, and therefore had cause to muse about the fact that this weekend was Imbolc, a Pagan holiday marking one of the eight sections of the year (more known ones include the Solstices, May Day, and Hallowe’en). It’s one of the […]

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To “swear not at all.”
I received a jury summons today, and after reading it, realized that I might run into some difficulties as a Quaker and an atheist. Any Quakers or atheists out there want to tell me how I can avoid swearing an oath on the Bible, so help me God?
Update: After rereading […]

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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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