Tag Archives: daniel

Another Fine Messiah

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Nathan

The concept of the Messiah is a significant one in both Judaism and Christianity, but I think it was in my Apocalypse class in college that I learned what it actually means, and how the concept developed, particularly in the context … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Cults, History, Judaism, Religion, Zoroastrianism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

On Earth as It Is in Heaven

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Nathan

The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, by Jeff Sharlet – I think I first heard about the secretive fundamentalist Christian organization known as the Family or the Fellowship on Bill Maher years ago, and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Capitalism, Christianity, Comics, Conspiracy Theories, Economics, Fundamentalism, Islam, Judaism, Music, Politics, Prejudice, Real Time with Bill Maher, Religion, Television, The Colbert Report, Zoroastrianism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Take Out the Tash

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Nathan

While The Last Battle might well be the weakest book in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, I was always struck by the appearance of Tash, the bloodthirsty god of Calormen. This nation, located to the south of Narnia, is largely … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, C.S. Lewis, Christianity, Chronicles of Narnia, Islam, Judaism, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Save Our Souls

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Nathan

There’s a saying that I’m sure you’ve come across on occasion: “You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” It’s often misattributed to C.S. Lewis, but I don’t think he ever actually said anything of … Continue reading →

Posted in Animism, Christianity, Egyptian, Gnosticism, Greek Mythology, Judaism, Mythology, Philosophy, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Zeal Deal

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Nathan

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, by Reza Aslan – This book received a certain amount of notoriety due to a really stupid interview on Fox News, when Lauren Green asked why a Muslim would write about … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Christianity, Fox News, History, Islam, Judaism, Middle East, Religion, Roman Empire, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Left Below

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Nathan

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Rapture, if only from those bumper stickers that say, “In case of rapture, this vehicle will be unmanned.” Because it’s totally not prideful to assume you’ll be one of the ones raptured, and I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholicism, Christianity, Eastern Orthodox, Fundamentalism, Judaism, Religion, Zoroastrianism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Mummies for Dummies

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Nathan

Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, translated by Raymond O. Faulkner – The Book of the Dead, more accurately translated “Book of Going Forth by Day,” is a collection of spells used in ancient Egyptian funerary rites. It isn’t really … Continue reading →

Posted in Body Image, Egyptian, Monsters, Mythology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Anoint Me Slowly

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Nathan

I’ve recently seen it suggested that the practice of anointing an official in oil dates back to Egypt, where such a ceremony is represented in images of coronations. It has been proposed that, symbolically speaking, the anointment transfers the power … Continue reading →

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The Antics of Antiochus

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Nathan

It’s interesting that the token attempt made by Western society toward multiculturalism is to acknowledge Chanukah alongside Christmas, when Chanukah is essentially a commemoration of a rejection of multiculturalism. Well, there’s more to it than that, but that is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Chanukah, History, Holidays, Judaism, Middle East, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

All Right, THIS Time for Sure!

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Nathan

It’s weird when people insist that we’re living in the End Times because of evidence in the Bible, when I think reading the Bible is a good indication that this is a false alarm. Biblical prophets have been predicting that … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Judaism, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments