Front PageCulture & Society
The Dark Knight - Paradox of the Spirit
Submitted by bill on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 16:46. batman Culture & Society justice spiritThe Batman is the hero that Gotham loves to hate. This latest incarnation of the seventy-year-old superhero created by Bob Kane is intended to return to the original dark vigilante, from the campy 1960s television version, with all of the symbolism returned. Although the movie was better than its prequel—Batman Begins—it is also louder and harsher to the senses. But I enjoyed it mostly for its symbolism and the treasure trove of paradoxes it projects. It's more like real life than real life.
The Lesson of Jeremiah Wright
Submitted by bill on Thu, 05/15/2008 - 15:16. Culture & Society jeremiah wright liberation theology religion salvation victimhoodThe exposure of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's Victim Gospel is merely an opening window peeking into the seedy works of victimhood preaching in particular, and to the church's widespread and divisive, sheep-versus-goat teachings in general. Both of these philosophies indulge parishioners' want to be comforted in their perceived afflictions, rather than encouraged to grow spiritually through adversity. This is not a true reflection of the teachings of Jesus. It's just the message that best sells.
The Changing Landscape of American Religion: The Growth of the Unaffiliated
Submitted by bill on Fri, 02/29/2008 - 20:18. Culture & Society Faith, Meaning & Purpose religion unaffilated unchurchedAmerican religious affiliation is in flux according to a new report from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. One finding that we're familiar with here, is that the “unaffiliated” category is growing. The report compares the change in religious affiliations of respondents between their childhood and adulthood, finding that the unaffiliated group has grown from 7% as children to 16% as adults. This unaffiliated category now makes up 16% of American adults, compared with 18% Mainline Protestant, 26% Evangelical, and about 24% Catholic.
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Free Society Requires That Citizens Learn the Lessons of History
Submitted by bill on Thu, 02/21/2008 - 12:12. Culture & Society faith fealty freedom history patronage trustThe free society was initiated through intelligent choices and personal sacrifice for the sake of an ideal that has not yet bloomed in full.
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What Happened to the Evangelical Political Campaign?
Submitted by bill on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 14:53. Culture & Society evangelicalism personal change politicsWhat happened to the Evangelical political campaign this season? Maybe I'm following the wrong sources, but I've seen almost no mention of it this campaign. Has the press tired of reporting its crusading achievements and upsets? Has it gone underground? Or has it suffered a change of heart?
Does modern evangelism do anymore good than modern politics?
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Civilization Depends Upon Trust
Submitted by bill on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 14:58. Culture & Society faith Faith, Meaning & Purpose society and culture the commons trust truthTruth is necessary for civilization on any scale. Truth allows, and nurtures Trust. And it is upon Trust that societies all depend. Societies have various schemes for determining Truth and fostering Trust. Some are good and lasting, while others are false and stand only with great expense of effort.
Taking Science on Faith
Submitted by bill on Sun, 12/09/2007 - 09:31. Culture & Society faith paul davies philosophy religion scienceThere has been some discussion around the net over Paul Davies op-ed piece in the New York Times titled Taking Science on Faith. As you might imagine, believers like it, and non-believers don't. This paragraph contains the flammable claim that science too, requires faith.
The problem with this neat separation into “non-overlapping magisteria,” [that science is based on testable hypotheses and religion is based on faith] as Stephen Jay Gould described science and religion, is that science has its own faith-based belief system. All science proceeds on the assumption that nature is ordered in a rational and intelligible way. You couldn’t be a scientist if you thought the universe was a meaningless jumble of odds and ends haphazardly juxtaposed. When physicists probe to a deeper level of subatomic structure, or astronomers extend the reach of their instruments, they expect to encounter additional elegant mathematical order. And so far this faith has been justified.1
This claim, that science has its own faith-based system, is comforting or vindicating to religious believers, and something close to anathema to Atheists and probably some Agnostics.
Animal and Human Sacrifice in Religion: Is God Pleased?
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 15:34. animal sacrifice Christianity Culture & Society Hinduism human sacrifice Islam Jihadism judaism religion sacrificeThe rituals involving animal sacrifice are age old in world religions. In fact all the world religions have tribal moorings and the rituals and religious customs appear to have originated from tribal ancient practices and primitive religions. Antiquity of this practice can not be established.…There were also some cannibals in some parts of the world who killed and ate human beings, mostly their adversaries. Some tribes sacrificed their victims and ate them while few tribes ate the dead. It was believed that the Gods, in whom the men believed, could be satisfied by offering fresh food as offering.…Regardless of its origin, the sacrifice of animals in homage to the gods was an idea that obviously had wide acceptance and this practice has been accepted by the words major religions and rituals infact sanctified these acts.
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Saint Ramdas Helped Revive Hinduism in Muslim India
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Wed, 10/24/2007 - 07:21. Culture & Society Hinduism india mughal ramayana ramdasSant (Saint) Ramdas lived in Maharashtra of India during 17 th century and he has gone in the golden pages of Indian History as the one who has helped revive Hinduism in India at a time when Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was persecuting Hindus very severely and let loose a rule of repression and religious intolerance. He as the Guru (Teacher) of Maratha warrior Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was credited to have inspired him to rise against the Muslim suppression and build a Hindu Kingdom. Accordingly, Shivaji succeeded in building an independent Maratha Hindu State under the very nose of Emperor Aurangzeb that arrested Islamisation of India and played great role in the ultimate destruction of Mughal Empire. Maratha empire dominated Indian political scene till it was shadowed by English power in India. Thus Sant Ramdas occupies an important position in the history of India ( 1). As a spiritual master he occupies an important position among world religious teachers.
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Proposed Destruction of Ramar Sethu (Adams Bridge) Touched Hornet's Nest
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Tue, 09/18/2007 - 09:49. Culture & Society india rama ramar sethu ramayana srilankaRamar Sethu is name of the bridge constructed by Rama’s Army that was described in Ramayana, the Hindu pious scripture. The long bridge is believed to have been built across the sea linking India and Srilanka across 50 km wide Palk straits. The ships traveling from Bay of Bengal to Arabian sea coast of India and Gulf have to circle it around Sri Lanka due to the submerged obstruction by Ramar Sethu in Palk straits. Otherwise these ships would sail freely through Palk straits there by saving great amount of time and distance. Small boats could travel, but ships can not negotiate due to the obstructions beneath. The Indian Government is trying to clear this obstruction to facilitate ships passage (1). The trouble begins here.
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