Is alchemy making a comeback? Both the NYT and the NY Sun have pieces on a recent alchemical conference in Philadelphia. What's most suprising is that both give a good overview of the contributions alchemists made to the development of modern science, and lack the usual jokes about deluded rubes hallucinating from mercury fumes.

Another small town "Pagan profile" tries to clear up misconceptions about Pagans (they're not atheists) but manages to create a few more in the process. (they're animist ecologists who believe in a 'god and a goddess.')

A Jewish family who asked a Delaware school board to be more inclusive in their public embrace of religion found themselves in the middle of a backlash so furious they were forced to flee their own hometown. After suffering numerous indignities (name calling, proselytising), the family approached the Board to request a more inclusive approach, the response was drastic. Word went out via radio shows and word of mouth, and protests, harassment, and threats followed. The town's general attitude can be seen in this local's "blame the victim" comment:

“We have a way of doing things here, and it’s not going to change to accommodate a very small minority. If they feel singled out, they should find another school or excuse themselves from those functions. It’s our way of life.”

Nice. I can empathise with this family, having attended Delaware schools myself, where rulings against class prayers were ignored and non-Christian students were treated as bizarre novelties- it's definitely not a good place to be 'different.'

The creators of South park have taken an unusual approach to advertise their emmy-nominated episode "Trapped in the Closet," which lampooned Tom Cruise and Scientology. The ad asks Jews to "Show them who really runs Hollywood."

A conservative preacher has taken a bold stand against politics, warmongering, and the "Christian Nation" myth. In other words, he's asking conservative Churches to follow the commandment to be "in the world" rather than "of the world."

A minor entry on the religious marijuana debate speculates about cannabis use in the bible.