Latest and featured essays

Genesis Of A Holy Book

Frank discussion of the (actual) origins of any given holy book is bound to be a fraught undertaking; as it […]

The Long History Of Legal Codes

People have been composing tracts outlining formal political systems since the Bronze Age.  As a point of departure, it’s worth […]

A Brief History Of Heaven & Hell

“I don’t believe in an afterlife. So I don’t have to spend my whole life fearing hell, or fearing heaven […]

Flouting The Establishment

If those who are not ideologically-committed to the ultra-right-wing want a desirable outcome in the 2020 presidential election, it is […]

The History Of Exalted Figures

Let’s define a panjandrum as a charismatic leader who has amassed a cult following, and employed demagogy as a tool […]

The Long History Of Sacred Texts

For many, there is a claim that is too enticing to resist: “This is THE book.  All that you–or anyone–will […]

Pilgrimage

Pilgrimages have played an integral role in religious activity since time immemorial.  The largest–and longest-practiced–is the Hindu “Kumbh Mela” in […]

The History Of Female Empowerment III: From Deities To Luminaries

Let’s conclude this trilogy by tracing the legacy of feminism back to the incidence of ancient female deities–specifically: the use […]

The History Of Female Empowerment II: Women of Battle, Women of Letters

As we saw in the previous essay, surveying the incidence of female sovereigns is an indication of a society’s view […]

The History of Female Empowerment I: Regna

One of the most significant neolithic societies of south-eastern Europe (in what would later be Dacia / Transnistria) is now […]

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