Terrorists are monsters, but no one KNOWS they are a monster. Almost everyone creates a script inside their head justifying their own cause and demonizing others. The Nazis told themselves that the Holocaust was “right” because the “Jews were a danger to Germany”. The soldiers and CIA handlers who tortured innocent Iraqis told themselves they… Read more Terrorists WANT Anti-Islamic Backlash
On this day in 1537 Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry VIII, gave birth (not by cesarean section) to a little boy who would briefly rule England as Edward VI. He became the boy-king at the age of nine when his father passed away in January of 1547, and after some squabbling for power Edward’s… Read more Edward VI
I, as I have mentioned before, have Asperger’s syndrome. That means I don’t understand a lot of human reactions or interactions or responses to facts. I am confused when people get mad or offended by facts. Opinions? Sure, those can go any which way, but facts are … factual. That’s why I am having trouble… Read more The Four Most Noticeable Arguments Against #BlackLivesMatter
A monster named Muhammad Abdulazeez murdered five servicemen last week. May light perpetual shine upon them. Was this a terrorist attack? Terrorism is “the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.” If Abdulazeez had a larger socio-political goal in mind (like starting a race war or a jihad) then it was… Read more Terror and the Lone Wolf
Mary I successfully overthrew Jane Grey, Edward VI’s legitimate and legal heir, and was officially declared queen of England on July 19, 1553. This is my article in this month’s Tudor Society Magazine (which you should totally subscribe to) about the historical rewriting of the legitimacy of Jane Grey’s reign. Sometime during the life… Read more Mary I, Usurper and Queen
The vitriolic hatred toward Muslims and ignorance of Islam being spewed from the mouth of bigots upsets me. It upsets me because it is entirely too reminiscent of the ‘Jews are a sickness on the national body’ garbage propagated by anti-Semitic malefactors and other assorted scum in the past and today among the neo-Nazi and… Read more Terrorism and Representation
I wanted to have a nice celebration blog about the SCOTUS legalizing marriage for all citizens, but world events have put a kibosh on that. Monsters and madmen acting on behalf of Daesh have indulged in three terrorist attacks, including two mass murders, in the last 24 hours and I feel compelled to talk about… Read more Daesh Terrorist Attacks in Kuwait, France, and Tunisia
Jesus wept. As I am sure most of you know, a 21 year old white man named Dylann Storm Roof attended a prayer service at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina and after an hour he started shooting members of the historically black church, killing nine of them. A survivor reported… Read more On Hate Crimes and Denial of Racism
I have a guest post up over on Saints, Sisters, and Sluts regarding the ancient Israelite queen Jezebel and the feminine personification (or hypostasis) of God. This is not a topic that brings joy to my friends and relatives who have a more orthodox view on theology. In sharp contrast, I am fascinated by it… Read more Hagia Sophia
Jessa Duggar Seewald, reality TV ‘star’ and fundamentalist evangelical Christian, recently posted a screed on Facebook explaining why she was ‘saved’ from Hell but liberal (i.e. tolerant) Christians like me were headed straight into perditions flames. According to her, that fact that not-real-Christians like me “believe in a loving God, not one who would send… Read more From Jezebel to Jessa