Jennifer's Alternative Religions Blog August 2006 Archive

Altar Fires, Witch-Killings, Reality TV, Getting Paid to Start a Religion
A story on La Santisima Muerte might have been nice, but a Texas television channel decided it was funnier to report that a a "Grim Reaper altar" caused a fire. ... Read More

Wednesday August 30, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Religion in the News: Republican politician Kathleen Harris has apparently swapped Kabbalah water for Jesus, and tells a Baptist paper that not only separation of Church and State a ... Read More

Monday August 28, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

John the Baptist in the Wilderness
This painting was originally titled "John the Baptist in the Wilderness," but identifying details were later painted over, and John's 'hair shirt' was changed into the leopard skin of Dionysus. Whether ... Read More

Monday August 28, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Mad for Moon, Cruise, Court Bias, Corryvreckan whirlpool, Da Vinci Vandals, More Ebay Jesus
Members of Reverend Moon's Unification Church unhappy with negative press coverage stormed the offices of a Seoul newspaper, breaking windows and staging a 700-person sit in. That should get ... Read More

Friday August 25, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Satan Raises Crime Rate, Rennes-le-Chateau Controversy, Isobel Gowdie, Witch Killings
Has the devil been a victim of bad press? According to Professor Henry Ansgar Kelly's book Satan: A Biography, the perception of Satan as evil incarnate is largely the ... Read More

Wednesday August 23, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created...


Tuesday August 22, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Paryushan, Kabbalah Water (Again), Catholic Priests Ordered to Stop Witch-doctoring, Various Hypocrites, More Rosslyn Mysteries
Today is the first day of Paryushan, the Jain festival of atonement and forgiveness. The eight or ten day festival (depending on sect) is observed by fasting, meditation, and ... Read More

Monday August 21, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Pastafarian Miracle, Tom Jones Church, Religious Urban legends, Crowley Sneakers, Jesus Poster Controversy Solved
Google appears to have scrapped its "no occult items" restrictions. The Vigin Mary visits the candy shop...but that's nothing- the Pastafarians have their very own miracle, with the first recorded appearance ... Read More

Friday August 18, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Ebay Icon, Dominionists, Kali at the Airport, "Spiritual Accessorizing," Cured by the Devil
The siren call of Ebay proves too much for yet another owner of an accidental religious icon. Inevitably, the vows never to sell the 'miracle' are followed by a ... Read More

Wednesday August 16, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

The Celtic Tree of Life
The image shown here is one of many representations of the Celtic Tree of Life. The Tree was a central part of early Celtic spirituality. To the Celts, the tree was ... Read More

Tuesday August 15, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Bogus Monks Lose Monastery, End Times "Index," The Dog Ate My Spell, Atheists Fight Harassment
A "monastery" in Texas once famous for its weeping Mary icon and now forever infamous for its pedophile monks may soon be seized by the State. Public interest in all things ... Read More

Monday August 14, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

The Wicker Man
Tales of the wicker man come out of a persistent (but arguably false) legend of the ancient Druids. The tale, recounted in Julius Caesar's Gallic wars, recounts a sensationalistic story ... Read More

Monday August 14, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Madonna's Parka Controversy, Smells Like a "Virtuous Woman," Battle Over the World's Ugliest Jesus
Pop star Madonna is once again the center of controversy in Italy- not for last week's mock-crucifixion, but for an image of the singer found on a billboard posted on ... Read More

Friday August 11, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Abdul Baha on Divine Philosophy
"Life must hold as its primary foundation the opportunity of a knowledge of the divine law. The great ones come, primarily, to remind man of this law which remains ... Read More

Thursday August 10, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Tim LaHaye's Weird Religion, Nazi Bible, Kirpan Flap, Castro Prayed For & Cursed
Rolling Stone reveals some of the lunacy behind Rev.Tim LaHaye, bestselling author of the "Left Behind" series and his bizarre interpretations of biblical prophecy. : "If the Bible (Revelation 9:1-11) says ... Read More

Wednesday August 9, 2006 | permalink | comments (1)

Intolerance in Afghanistan, Vatican Threatens Ordaining Women, Creation Museum, More Bad Religious Reporting
Religious tolerance still has no place in the 'new and improved' Afghanistan, which recently ordered the deportation of hundreds of Korean Christians after it was rumored that a planned 'peace ... Read More

Monday August 7, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)

Alchemy, Pagans, Religious Harassment, Pastor Eschews Politics
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 ... Read More

Wednesday August 2, 2006 | permalink | comments (0)