From The Faster Times, Oliver Miller reviews world religions. From the most rational standpoint, all religions — pagan, polytheistic, monotheistic, Zen, whatever — lie somewhere on a scale of wackiness. A look at 3 silly religious beliefs held by non-silly people. From The Scriptorium, an article on Oprah-style religion and choosing the truth over The Secret; John Mark Reynolds on reading old books like the Bible: It would help if more people with opinions about the Bible had read it; and a look at why Obama is not the Antichrist. A review of Global Catholicism: Diversity and Change Since Vatican II by Ian Linden. More and more and more on A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch. Enter the Holy Now: How African Pentacostalism is commercializing global Christianity. Can nations be "Christian"? An English debate (and more). A review of A Republic of Mind and Spirit: A Cultural History of American Metaphysical Religion by Catherine L. Albanese. A review of Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional by Jim Belcher. A review of Goddess Unmasked: The Rise of Neopagan Feminist Spirituality by Philip G. Davis. The Book of Harry: How the boy wizard won over religious critics — and the deeper meaning theologians now see in his tale. Scientology's no good, very bad week: Oscar-winner Paul Haggis breaks with the church, leader Tommy Davis storms off "Nightline", whither Tom Cruise? (and more and more) Cult Busters: How governments decide whether a religion is real or not. From IEET, William Sims Bainbridge in Religion for a Galactic Civilization 2.0 (and more).
