popular culture

News last week that holiday decorations in Chicago’s Daley Plaza will be joined this year by a light-up “A” for atheism served as a reminder that though the anti-religion camp may claim victory over believers on many fronts, iconography is not one of them.

Thanksgivukkah is a way of being out, loud, and proud— We’re here! We’re Jewish! We eat turkey AND latkes!—but can Jews ever compete with the juggernaut of Christmas?

In these days of political polarization much of the public discussion, particularly when it comes to religion, has shifted from what is said to how it is said. Forget about equality, the narrative goes, are you demanding it in a kind and civil tone? Maybe civility, unity and tolerance ain’t all they’re cracked up to be…

“Comrades and fellow South Africans, I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all. I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you the, people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands.”

From a rumor about Hasidic Jews and soy to Amish mafia TV.

Ten questions for the author of a novel inspired by a landmark Intelligent Design case discusses what it’s like to create a Darwinian blowhard, and more.

Daniel Goleman is best known as the author of Emotional Intelligence, the title of which has now become part of our everyday vocabulary. Since that book, Goleman has applied the basic idea—that we…

Say hello to Marvel’s latest superhero.

A new book of essays on the meaning of Avatar, is a down-in-the-dirt wrestling match between those who resonate with it and those who hate a film that’s been labeled pro-civilization and anti-civilization, pro-science and anti-science, un-American and too American, feminist and misogynistic, leftist and neoconservative, and pagan, atheistic, theistic, and animistic.

Rolling Stone lights the way.