An irreverent scripture retold in native slang is a big hit in Australia. Meanwhile, Australian youth 'party with God.'

University of Phoenix sued for religious discrimination

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing the ubiquitous business college, alleging a pattern of discrimnination against non-Mormon enrollment counselors.

The Rev. Lloyd Kenyon clears up a few misconceptions about the religious convictions of the Founding Fathers.

The Massachussets home of a Salem woman who fled the infamous witch trials is today a crumbling ruin. The house, more than three hundred years old, is in a terrible state of disrepair and the owners, if any, cannot be located.

'plagued by evil spirits'

Occult classes offered at a Somerset, UK community center are proving very popular- and, of course, controversial, as community members let their imaginations run wild. Kudos to the Centre for standing up for the presenter's rights in the face of public opposition.

Satanic Panics

The bid to free Father Gerald Robinson, the 70 year old priest convicted of the 'satanic' murder' of a nun some 26 years ago, is lurching along. Readers will recall that Father Robinson was convicted of the murder on scanty evidence - DNA found in multiple places on the nun's body did not match Father Robinson, and the only evidence tying the Father to the crime was a letter opener, which was never definitively identified as the murder weapon. Father Robinson was questioned in the initial investigation, but was not charged until allegations of "satanic ritual abuse"

Speaking of 'SRA,' a witness who made allegations of satanic child abuse (the charges were eventually dropped) has recanted her testimony, claiming her testimony was coerced. This has lead to a clamor to reopen the case.

And of course, after it is revealed that a crazed shooter was a 'goth,' the usual hysterical warnings race to the opinion pages...watch out, parents, black lipstick* makes children into murderers! Of course, if it's Goth/Wicca/Punk rock or what have you that causes these events, how to explain this?

*and video games, Harry Potter, trick or treating, Wicca, Rock and Roll, heavy metal, sugar, teletubbies, pokemon... (More things that are evil)

Finally, for laughs, we include the funniest of the annual Halloween freakouts. Some of the silliness here will be addressed in tomorrow's post.

Quick Links

The local university covers Calgary, Canada's Pagan Pride Day, no 'reeds' or 'pinnacles' here. Anothertake of the soccer Mom/witch variant . Coffee shop owners complain that a rumor of Wiccan classes is ruining their business. Meanwhile, a "loathesome" Pagan event at a New York College will go on despite local protests of the event as "hate speech" against catholics.

SF Bay Guardian piece on Red Wheel/Weiser.

A Scientologist describes her experiences with Silent Birth.