Satanic scare would appear to be today's theme, beginning with the murder of a teenaged boy in a Des Moines cemetary which authorities believe may have been a ritual sacrifice. Witnesses claim the victim was beaten over his alleged relationship with an underaged girl. Anyone want to guess which angle the prosecution will choose?

Reiki teachers in Ireland defend themselves against accusations of Satanism.

Fear of black magic hampers treatment of bird flu in Indonesia.

Supporters of the three teens known as the West Memphis Three are still seeking justice for the three whose convictions for "Satanic ritual murder" are almost certainly a miscarriage of justice.

Do they sell insurance for that?

An Israeli insurance company calls in a kabbalist to counteract curses they believe were laid by unhappy welfare applicants.

When the shoe is on the other foot...

...it pinches. An evangelical Christian explains why he no longer supports school sanctioned prayers, after sitting through such a ritual led by Buddhists.

Meanwhile, Alternet has a handy guide to counteracting spurious Christian arguments: The Sinner's Guide to the Evangelical Right

Madonna Staked over Crucifixion

The Dutch government is refusing to bend to demands from Christian groups that pop idol Madonna be prevented from staging the Mock crucifixion that infuriated Romans and nearly got her prosecuted in Germany. Orthodox Russians protest the act by driving a stake through her portrait.

That's one way of geting a ghost's attention...

A seance gone awry may have been the cause of a fire that burned a historic Alabama mansion; trespassing ghost hunters may have been atempting to communicate with the ghost of a former resident.

Iraqi Expats put on a display of tolerance

Mandaeans are among the many Iraqi ethnic groups in attendance at an Iraqi cultural festival in Canada that emphasizes tolerance, peace, and mutual understanding.