Religion

Misogyny and the Muslim woman

the Atlantic There are two general ways to think about the problem of misogyny in the Arab world. The first is to think of it as an Arab problem, an issue of what Arab societies and people are doing wrong. “We have no freedoms because they hate us,” Eltahawy writes, […]

Thoughts on science and faith

Times Standard I majored in biology as an undergraduate, and have never regretted it. Life has taken me in many directions since then, but the “science of life” has stayed with me. I’ve recently read some books by Richard Dawkins, a genetic and molecular biologist, and an atheist. I recommend […]

Is Demeaning or Beating a Child Ever Funny?

Huff Post Sean Harris, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N.C., has now “apologized” for a delivering a sermon in which he told parents to “punch” their “limp-wristed” sons and force their “butch” daughters to “dress up” and “smell nice” from time to time. However, he claims that his words were […]

God-awful pollution of India’s waters

the guardian Do the gods pollute? Scientists in India, worried about the public health consequences of immersing idols in lakes and rivers, have been looking anew at water pollution. They hope, and perhaps in some cases pray, to harmonise their medical concerns with some people’s religious priorities. Most of their research has focused on idols […]