A new blog focuses on the plight of Iraq's other threatened minority faith, the Mandaeans.

It can't be easy being Pagan in Utah.

Bad Press For Witches

Some seriously stupid behavior + Wicca= big headlines

The above, of course, began when year-round "psychic shops" objected to seasonal witches taking all their profit, and demanded all tarot readers, palmists, and necromancers be licensed. (Oh, try not to laugh) She may not be the best mom, but what does her paganism have to do with it?

Sikhs Battle Canada

It's been a bad year for Canadian Sikhs. The government has recently apologized for refusing three children passports for refusing to remove their religiously required headgear. Earlier, they had to reverse a controversial immigration policy that forced Sikhs entering Canada to change their names.

They Don't Do Santeria

Nearly fifteen years after the Supreme Court upheld their right to animal sacrifice, Luckumi practioners aren't finding it any easier to practice their religion, citing police harassment, intolerant neighbors, and worse.

No Surprises Here

Newly analyzed DNA does not match any of the convicted "West Memphis Three."

A Christian plea for sanity regardsing the case. Evangelical Shenanigans

I seriously doubt that "Serpent worship" and sacred sexuality are on any grade school curricula.

A little publicity was all it took for the Pentagon to rethink "freedom packages" meant to turn American troops in Iraq into "Christian soldiers." The packages contained missionary materials and copies of the "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" video game- you know, the one that gives points to players who kill unbelievers. Who could have thought this was anything but asinine?

Speaking of asinine, how else to describe the reasoning that since Harry Potter books are available in grade school to "endorse Wiccan practices," it's okay to give out bibles in school? Nice to know the people entrusted with children's minds can tell the difference between religion and fantasy fiction.

Not surprising, but sad- a report on Texas' execution glee finds religion a major motivating factor.

Oh, the perils of religious entanglement: one complaint from a Turkish creationist gets all of Wordpress banned in Turkey.