The pretense that the minions who participate in the Final Exit Network are mere counselors—rather than mobile assisted suicide clinics—was shattered in Phoenix when one facilitator pleaded guilty to assisting the suicide of a mentally ill woman. From the story:Readers may remember . . . . Continue Reading »
I’d put this in the comments on Justin’s post, but Milliner’s review of Avatar and its conservative reviewers merits deserves a broad audience.The blue people do it better. Harmony with nature, respect for food sources, sensitivity to the earth, liturgical vitality, rites of . . . . Continue Reading »
If you oppose government-mandated healthcare, there is a way you can opt-out: Become Amish. Federal health care reform will require most Northern New Yorkers but not all, it turns out to carry health insurance or risk a fine. Hundreds of Amish families in the region are likely to be . . . . Continue Reading »
A new study by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life reveals the depressing state of religious freedom around the globe: 64 nationsabout one-third of the countries in the worldhave high or very high restrictions on religion and nearly 70% of the . . . . Continue Reading »
CNN has a fascinating article today on the post-Avatar blues by some viewers. Here’s an example of a guy who posted on a film forum:“Ever since I went to see ‘Avatar’ I have been depressed. Watching the wonderful world of Pandora and all the Na’vi made me want to be one . . . . Continue Reading »
Ross Douthat latest shows why he’s the best columnist at the New York Times : Liberal democracy offers religious believers a bargain. Accept, as a price of citizenship, that you may never impose your convictions on your neighbor, or use state power to compel belief. In return, you will be . . . . Continue Reading »
Some anthropologists and cross-cultural psychiatrists claim that mental illnesses have never been the same the world over but are distinctive to particular times and places. But because of globalization, Ethan Watters argues , we are Americanizing the worlds understanding of mental health and . . . . Continue Reading »
Recent science news from around our weird universe. The Styrofoam Planet In their search for a planet that looks like Earth — comfortably bathed in sunshine in a pleasant solar system where life would be easy come easy go — astronomers keep turning up the strangest things. They’ve . . . . Continue Reading »
The noble savage as characterised by Jean Jacques Rousseau has been repeated in a variety of venues. The 19th century Slavophile movement in Russia idolized the “simple” peasant. Thomas Jefferson repeated that notion with his political writings emphasizing the single family farm as a . . . . Continue Reading »
As attractive, well-dressed worshipers climbed out of taxis on New Yorks Park Avenue and streamed into the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola for the eleven oclock Solemn Mass on Sunday, January 10, the atmosphere was one of quiet, reverence, and peace. The parishioners were gathering, in . . . . Continue Reading »