Jennifer's Alternative Religions Blog April 2006 Archive

Da Vinci Code Reader's Guide- Updated!
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Saturday April 29, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Smithy Code Solved, Sufis in Iraq, Bush Talks to God
The "Smithy Code" has been cracked, and it looks like it wasn't worth the trouble. The lawyer who first discovered the code while browsing Smith's ruling on the Da ... Read More

Friday April 28, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Smithy's Code, Seeing is Believing, Mary Magdalen, Vampire?
Here's another odd newspaper profile of a young Wiccan who doesn't want to be called a witch- So they call her a 'sorceress' instead. I'm also curious to know ... Read More

Thursday April 27, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Beltane, Papal Product Endorsement, Weeping & Bleeding Icons
A Leicester Pagan describes the Wiccan festival of Beltane. If that "year and a day" thing works out, Wiccans who want a cheesy Vegas wedding need not fear- Elvis ... Read More

Wednesday April 26, 2006 | permalink | comments (2)

Judas Scholar Blasts "Intellectual Laziness," Q Document
Judging by the reaction of most Church leaders to the Gospel of Judas, it would seem that for most, it can't go away quickly enough, with public statements ranging from ... Read More

Tuesday April 25, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Witchcraft Outlawed, Legalized; Church Angered over Da Vinci Code Billboard
On the sme day that Romania effectively legalizes witchcraft, allowing Gabriela Chukur to become the country's first legally registered witch, Zimbabwe has made it a crime punishable by up to ... Read More

Monday April 24, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

The Changing Religious Landscape
It's been a long, strange week for religious rights. A group of Christian High School students are suing for their right to speak negatively about homosexuality, among other things. ... Read More

Sunday April 23, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Da Vinci Code's Unkind Cut, Religion in Space, Bloody Marys and Jesus Snacks
Here's a question few of us will ever have to grapple with: How to practise your religion - in space Merchandise for the upcoming Da Vinci Code movie, featuring Leonardo's Vitruvian ... Read More

Friday April 21, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Witchs' Bibles, Wiccan Teachers for Schools?
The Board of Education of Brunswick County, North Carolina, may have bitten off more than it could chew when it decided to allow "religious groups" (read: Gideons) to hand ... Read More

Friday April 21, 2006 | permalink | comments (2)

We're Alternatively Lazy
Christian college professor and "cult expert" Ron Enroth knows why "altreligions" like Baha'i and Scientology are popular with young people and celebrities:"Many of the alternative spiritualities do not make heavy ... Read More

Thursday April 20, 2006 | permalink | comments (11)

Falun Gong at the White House
Just as George Bush is exhorting the Chinese president to "allow people to speak freely," the secret service was arresting a member of Falun Gong (Dafa) who came to do ... Read More

Thursday April 20, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Questioning Miracles, Ohio's Judas, Trampling Babylon, Fire-Wheel
Reverend Mark Creech wants to know why people have such a hard time believing in miracles. Real miracles, that is- not those "silly pagan superstitions!" Yes, the Reverend ... Read More

Thursday April 20, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Ridvan
Today marks the beginning of the twelve day Baha'i festival of Ridvan (pronounced riz-vohn), the most important festival in the Baha'i faith. The festival comemmorates the founding ... Read More

Thursday April 20, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

Enough "Undercover Scientology," Beslan Jesus, Dr. Bombastus
I can understand why psychiatrists have a bee in their bonnet for Tom Cruise, but one has to wonder when "going undercover" to Scientology meetings is going to get old. ... Read More

Wednesday April 19, 2006 | permalink | comments (5)

Opus Dei & Hypocrisy, Pope Chides Freedom, Affluence, & Science, Harry Potter Ban Redux
Conservative Catholic organization Opus Dei is so upset at how they come off in the Da Vinci Code that they are demanding a disclaimer. Of course, they don't seem ... Read More

Tuesday April 18, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

Leonardo's Birthday
Today is Leonardo Da Vinci's birthday, or would be if he were here to celebrate one. It's only taken five hundred odd years now to figure out how he painted ... Read More

Saturday April 15, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Scientology Shockers (Not), "Satanic Priest" Goes on Trial
Lacking any new rumors to report, the media has apparently only just now caught on that Tom Cruise's wife-to-be is also a Scientologist. And, (horrors!) the baby won't be baptised! ... Read More

Friday April 14, 2006 | permalink | comments (3)

The Gospel of Mary Magdalen
All the attention paid to the Gospel of Judas is making people take notice of the plethora of Gnostic gospels discovered in the last century. I predict that ... Read More

Thursday April 13, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Alternative Jesus, Rahabilitating the Devil
The newly revised story of Judas appears to have opened the floodgates, both on alternative histories of Jesus and on rehabilitating historic villains. First, historian James Tabor, in ... Read More

Wednesday April 12, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Yellow Turbans for Vaisakhi
Sikhs are being encouraged to wear saffron-yellow turbans tommorrow as they celebrate the birth of the Khalsa during Baisakhi celebrations. The purpose of the yellow turbans is to highlight ... Read More

Wednesday April 12, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Berenger Saunier, Dan Brown Sued Again, The Burning of Major Weir, Mahavir Jayanti
Today is the birthday of Father Berenger Sauniere, the man whose life and mysterious activities sparked a mystery and inspired books such as Holy Blood, Holy Grail, and the Da ... Read More

Tuesday April 11, 2006 | permalink | comments (2)

Satanic Evangelizing, Christian Sues For Anti-Tolerance, Templar Bodies Discovered
Another columnist picks up on the ironic arrest of three Satanist teens and questions whether the same charges would be leveled had they been Christians at a Satanic gathering: What's ... Read More

Tuesday April 11, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

West Memphis Three Still Awaiting Justice
The so-called "West Memphis Three," three almost certainly innocent men (one of whom are awaiting his fate on death row) implausibly convicted of the murders of three young boys in ... Read More

Monday April 10, 2006 | permalink | comments (2)

The Charming of the Plow
Today Neopagans of the Asatru variety celebrate the spring holy day, the Charming of the Plow . Rituals are carried out in honor of the Goddess of earth, Erda, ... Read More

Monday April 10, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

Judas Fuss, Challenging Bible Exemptions
Don't worry about the Gospel of Judas, says a Church representative. Why? Because gnostics wern't actually Christian. Notice he slips in that "written by eyewitnesses" comment on ... Read More

Sunday April 9, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Unusual Discrimination Suit, Odd Beliefs=Lose Your Job, The Book of the Law
There have been some pretty strange religious discrimination lawsuits in the past few years, but the following is the strangest I've seen yet. A news anchor who also happens ... Read More

Saturday April 8, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

The Gospel of Judas
The verdict in the Da Vinci Code plagiarism trial is in, and should come as no surprise to anyone that the decision went in Dan Brown's favor. Now that ... Read More

Friday April 7, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

How to Tell if You're a Witch, Beware Hot Goblins
I don't think I've ever seen a funnier opening line on a news item: "A Zimbabwean man on trial for theft stunned a magistrate by asking for temporary release in order ... Read More

Thursday April 6, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Traveling Mary, Satanic Panic Redux, Jesus Loves Porn Stars (or maybe not)
Is the Mother of God jealous of the traveling gnome? One has to wonder why Mary Magdalen is suddenly so esteemed by the Church... (Oh, wait) Another inexplicably positive review of ... Read More

Thursday April 6, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

"Jesus Papers" Underwhelms, Free Bibles Go Unappreciated
The LA Times sums up Baigent's Jesus Papers: Michael Baigent's revenge on "The Da Vinci Code." Canadian parents balk at bible giveaways in school. Shock: popular images of Jesus' crucifixion may ... Read More

Wednesday April 5, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

Grave Sweeping Festival, Satanists Go To Church
Today marks the observance in China of Ching Ming ("Pure brightness"), also known as the grave sweeping festival. Families pay their respects to the dead by cleaning and decorating ... Read More

Wednesday April 5, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

Censorship, Jesus in Siberia, Easter, Satanic Pacts, Sacrificial Remains
Big box booksellers Barnes and Noble and Borders are bravely standing up to freedom of speech and striking a blow for censorship, refusing to sell copies of Free Inquiry magazine, ... Read More

Tuesday April 4, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Technorati Profile


Monday April 3, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Spotting Bad Psychics, Castel del Monte, Vestal Virgins, Silent Birth
Ever wished there was a "Consumer Reports" for psychics? And, speaking of sham psychics, never humble Uri Geller takes credit for the Louvre Pyramid. Italy's enigmatic Castel del Monte is ... Read More

Monday April 3, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Skiing to Church, Artistic Heart, Art Fatwah, 42, Weeping Icons
Utah Christians no longer have to choose between skiing and Church. Yet another curiosity of medicine- A man with rudimentary art skills receives the heart of an artist- and, apparently, his ... Read More

Monday April 3, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Comments, New Symbols, Texts
Comments are now open on the blog- fire away! There are also new entries in the symbol glossary, and new texts in the Library.

Monday April 3, 2006 | permalink | comments (2)