A newly released report reveals the religious biases of the internet filtering companies who provide services to public schools and libraries. These biases are believed to be the motivation for the blockage of material objected to by religious conservatives- liberal political views, pro-choice advocacy sites, and, of course, alternative religious sites. In other words, material all would find objectionable for children is joined by material found objectionable from a minority religious standpoint. (Funniest example: Richard Dawkins' "occult" website)

Worse, these biases are not made readily apparent; religious affiliations are seldom mentioned on company web sites.

Of course, this is old news to some of you, as this site is often blocked for readers whose employers contract with these companies.

Satanic Panics, Witchhunts

The conspiracy theorist whose accusations of pedophilia and child sacrifice against the OTO landed her in court when one of the "Illuminati pedophile groups" she pointed a finger at had the nerve to object to her random accusations is now attempting to settle out of court. The "illuminati pedophile ring" seems to be today's most popular Satanic panic, but in all these years I've never seen any of these folks offer a rational explanation why world-domination by global satanic conspiracy requires child sacrifice. Apparently, it's just how the genre operates.

A South African man who massacred a family he believed were witches was sentenced to five life terms in prison Wednesday. The murderer's five victims included an elderly woman and a five year old child.

The Times online carries the story of Cedric Rodrick, who was eight years old and newly orphaned when he was accused of witchcraft, beaten, stoned, and chased from his home. Cedric is one of thousands of Congolese children who are homeless and neglected due to witchcraft superstitions.

Another sad story- an elderly woman in Malawi is sentenced to two years hard labor after confessing to witchcraft charges instigated by a little girl's bad dream.

In Zimbabwe, a man was unexpectedly set on fire during a ceremony performed by a would-be witchfinder, who was attempting to discover a thief who had taken some window glass. The man drenched participants in alcohol and passed a torch over them, claiming the thief would catch fire. After setting a man ablaze, the man was arrested. (On charges of witchcraft, naturally.)

Religious Discrimination News

A Kosher butcher (shochet) was fired by his employer after a decade on the job because it was determined by his employer that he wasn't God-fearing enough to suit them, committing such grievous breaches as driving his car to Synagogue services and not living in an Orthodox neighborhood.

The British Airways employee who sued for discrimination for her employer's requirement that she conceal her religious jewelry has lost her appeal.

Divine Spam?

Can you communicate with the internet? Jeremy at Fantastic Planet has set up an experiment to see if the Logos can operate through spam. Send your questions to perkypat@palmtreegarden.net and see what she's got to say.

Links

Fun: Tarot card image generator

Nifty: David Bollt Art Gallery

Niftier: Medieval Illuminations