Maybe the IMF’s Dominique Strauss-Kahn thought he was wearing the Ring of Gyges, a mythical piece of jewelry which allows the wearer to become invisible. It shows up in Plato’s Republic, where Socrates posed the question whether the owner could behave himself. His interlocutor, Glaucon, suggested that, once invisible, few could resist stealing things, taking …
Pastor Samuel Willard strode up the center aisle of Boston’s Third Church as the congregation sang a psalm. It was an official day of fasting and prayer for Bostonians. But for Samuel Sewall, it would also be a day of personal repentance. As Willard passed, he paused just long enough to receive a note from …
If you happened to be alive in 1897, you might have spotted a New York Times headline that read: “Sentenced to Bible Reading: Peculiar Punishment Inflicted Upon Boys by a Danville Court.” Here’s the gist: Police Magistrate W. R. Timmons who sentenced a woman to the rock-pile for thirty days, today imposed as a punishment …
Danville, Illinois and the Eschatology of a Five Year Old Read More »
There was a news headline last week that you probably didn’t notice unless you’re either a fanatical college basketball fan or a resident of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky was forced to stop claiming that its men’s head basketball coach, John Calipari, has 500 career victories, since 42 of those victories were vacated by the …
“I love Mormonism. It’s so young and American!” That’s how the writers of the new hit Broadway musical, The Book of Mormon, explained to Jon Stewart on the Daily Show as to why they decided to write a musical about Mormonism when they are, well, not Mormon. I should make two things clear before we …
You have likely heard of the Anthony Weiner scandal and his ensuing apology. A married man, Weiner “sexted” with several women until he posted a salacious photo intended for private viewing to his public Twitter account. Those who still doubt the utility of Twitter, take note. It now accounts for the loss of a shamed …