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Reality TV gets Religion
Earlier this month, I read an article that credited the Archbishop of Canterbury with suggesting that reality television should start including religion into its programming. Part of his reasoning was so that people could learn more about other religions. Now I don’t know if the Archbishop and I have a different definition of what constitutes…
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NRMs: Satanism
I hesitated to write this post because I realize that it may cause some controversy and discomfort for some of my readers. That said, I felt it was an important new religious movement (NRM) to discuss because it aptly demonstrates how beliefs that seemingly contradict our own, or are foreign to us, can lead to…
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Adopt a Cardinal Website
You’d have to be living under a rock to have not heard about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. It’s not everyday that a Pope resigns. In fact, the last time it happened was in 1415 with the resignation of Pope Gregory XII. A media circus that rivals the biggest Hollywood scandals has surrounded the resignation of…
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God Hates…. Shrimp?!?
In one of my classes we’ve been examining what the Bible says about various hot button topics including homosexuality, abortion, capital punishment, and the environment. Despite what many people on both sides of these debates say, the Bible doesn’t necessarily speak to many of these issues. Various interpretations and translations over the years have skewed…
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Soaring out of the Spiritual Closet
When I tell people that I study religion there is often one of two assumptions made – either that I am deeply religious or that I am unreservedly anti-religious. These assumptions are inaccurate. So, in honour of my second year of blogging under the Black Chicken moniker, I thought I’d soar out of the spiritual…
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Project Conversion – Book Review
(Note: Project Conversion is available through Amazon.com in either print or Kindle format) If you’re a regular follower of my posts, you’re already well acquainted with my deep concerns about religious/irreligious intolerance. Through my blog posts and academic pursuits, I’ve tried to understand what causes such hatred to exist, and how we can move forward…
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Holy Daze: World Religion Day (January 20th, 2013) – Bahá’í Faith, Interfaith
In 1949, The National Spiritual Assembly (a governing body of the Bahá’í Faith in the United States) proclaimed that every year on the third Sunday of January, the Bahá’í community would observe World Religion Day. Despite this observance being originally founded by the Bahá’í community, it is intended to be celebrated by all the world’s…
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NRMs: Raelism
Many of you may be familiar with the Raelian Movement from when they made news in 2002. A biotechnology company with ties to the Raelians claimed to have cloned the first human baby, a girl named Eve. Obviously, this created some sensational headlines. The Raelian Movement was founded in 1974 by Claude Vorillhon who claimed…
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Holy Daze: Guru Nanak Gurpurab (November 28th, 2012) – Sikhism
Guru Nanak was the first Sikh Guru, and is considered the founder of the religion. Sikhs celebrate the anniversary of the births or martyrdoms of the ten Gurus during remembrance days known as Gurpurabs. The festival celebrating Guru Nanak’s birthday falls on the full moon in the month of Kartik. In preparation for the festivities,…
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Holy Daze: Diwali (November 13th, 2012) – Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism
Diwali, popularly known as the “Festival of Lights” is an important festival in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. All three traditions share this sacred day, however, the significance and meaning of the day differs. I think many of you will also note some striking similarities around the spiritual metaphors between this revered Eastern holiday with one…