Arthur D. Hlavaty

The train wreck that was the New Atheism [Pharyngula]

Thanx to andrewducker

My political approach comes from Robert Anton Wilson: The Right says cruel vicious things about the State; the Left says cruel vicious things about banking and big business; both are essentially correct.

That belief remains unshaken, but I fear that a similar approach is required for populism and elitism. Of course, those who remain Left Populists after Brexit and Trump are demonstrating a heroic ability to rise above mere fact, but consider that San Francisco, the technological elite’s City on a Hill (or many hills) has decayed to the point where people are crapping in the streets. (Somewhere V.S. Naipaul is chuckling.)

I suppose I must mention an alternative theory: Another thing San Francisco is famous for is acceptance of a great variety of sexual orientations, and some say their god is punishing them for it. But that, to cite Wilson again, requires believing that the entire Universe was designed and built by something so mean and petty you wouldn’t trust it to put together an outhouse.

Accusations emerge online that shocking depiction of Jesus in a manger was “staged” by his mother. [Newsthump]

A female priest [St. Louis Public Radio]

Thanx to Metafilter

A rabbi looks at Mr. Rogers [Twitter]

Anti-abortion laws are not “Shariah law”. Actually, Shariah is a large and complex system that includes rules protecting workers and the poor, just like parts of Leviticus the Radical Right would rather you didn’t look at.

Back when the forces of purity & decency were attacking pictures of nekkid women, we used to say, “If you think the human body is obscene, complain to the Manufacturer.” Pete Buttigieg says the same about his love life, and he’s right too. [CNN]

Women have been robbed of their religious heritage [Irish Times]

Thanx to twistedchick

Francis Cardinal Spellman back in the good old days. [Salon]

Jo Walton’s review of the Holy Bible [Goodreads]