Monthly Archives: March 2010

Can an animal commit suicide?

On Andrew Sullivan’s blog there’s been a thread on this question. I’ll track back and read it from the beginning, but the question is interesting. In the Death and Immortality course we’ve touched on suicide here and there, mostly when … Continue reading

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Suicides in India

Another epidemic it seems. This time of “genuine” suicides as opposed to “suicide bombers”. “Young people see this as a way to give meaning to what seem like meaningless lives,” said Sudhir Kakar, a prominent psychoanalyst and novelist who has … Continue reading

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National anthem and pacifist college

This one reminds me of the NCAA basketball tournament about 8 years ago. Some college’s team was called the “Quakers”. Yes, those Quakers. I think they were from Pennsylvania or perhaps one of the northeastern states. Their cheerleaders were yelling … Continue reading

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Religious belief and class

Some surprising and not so surprising findings about a person’s religious beliefs and their socioeconomic class. Lifelong theists (“I have always believed in God”) are disproportionately from lower socio-economic groups while lifelong atheists (“I have never believed in God”) are … Continue reading

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Magnetic Waves Alter Moral Compass?

Apparently magnets have a lot of pull. (OK. I could help it.) Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology say a (magnetic)  device allowed them to observe the effects magnetic rays have on a person’s sense of morality.

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World Religions 101

Maybe it would be a good idea for California political candidates to take SFSU’s PHIL 502 World Religions course. Carly Fiorina, former HP CEO and current Republican candidate for California governor, made a Passover faux pas.

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Egyptian door to the afterlife

Archaeologists discover 3,500-year-old door to the afterlife: Archaeologists have unearthed a 3,500-year-old door to the afterlife from the tomb of a high-ranking Egyptian official near Karnak temple in Luxor, the Egyptian antiquities authority said Monday.

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A new bluebird

A cartoon from The New Yorker. Hilarious as usual.

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Christian Science new truce with medicine

NY Times reports the church rethinks its opposition to members seeking medical treatment. [F]aced with dwindling membership and blows to their church’s reputation caused by its intransigence concerning medical treatment, even for children with grave illnesses, Christian Science leaders have … Continue reading

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The bullies of religion

The Times Online (UK) has a short item featuring Archbishop Rowan Williams on bullying people into belief: In a speech at Guildford cathedral, Dr Williams criticised those who believed they had all the answers and treated non-Christians as if their … Continue reading

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