Dissecting the difference between faith (believing things that cannot be disproved) and superstition (believing things that can).

"The majority of men are in no persuasion bigots; they are not willing to sacrifice on every vain imagination that superstition or enthusiasm holds forth, or that even zeal and piety recommend, the certain possession of their temporal happiness ... "If anything can tend to revive and keep [fanaticism] up, it is to keep alive the passions…

Quotes Doctor Who (specifically "The Happiness Patrol"). Really.

Is this a discussion?

I find Rilstone's white on black blog almost unreadable but his prose well worth the effort, as with this skewering of Melanie Philips.

"How have the Wilkinsons achieved virtual martyrdom status in UK conservative evangelical circles in the space of about 12 hours since Archbishop Cranmer reheated the story? Either they are as naive as they are projecting, or alternatively they knew the law, knowingly broke the law, and have little to complain about if they are then subject t…

Paul on the numinous.

Excellent commentary - transferable to many situations.

Nate Silver talks sense

Nate Silver talks even more sense