Research On Religion | 2013

Archive for October, 2013

Chris White on Debunking Ancient Aliens

Tags: ancient aliens, Dendera light bulb, Easter Island, Egyptian pyramids, Erich von Däniken, Ezekiel's Wheel, Jean-Pierre Houdin, Joseph Bloomrich, Mahabharata, Michael Heiser, moai, Mohenjo Daro, Nazca lines, New Age, nuclear weapons, Pacal's rocket, Richard Dawkins, Rocky the RoR mascot, Skeptic Magazine

Was Ezekiel’s Wheel in the Old Testament really a spaceship? Were the lines on a Peruvian plateau a landing strip for ancient astronauts? Did extraterrestial beings give us the ability to nuke one another? And how did the Egyptians get those last few stones on the top of the pyramids if not by some super high-tech flying saucer? Chris White, producer of the film “Ancient Aliens Debunked,” joins us for our special Halloween episode to talk about these, and several more mysteries.

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David Cortman on Religious Liberty Updates

Tags: Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v Winn, Conestoga Wood Specialties, Hobby Lobby, Marsh v Chambers, nativity displays, offended observer, religious freedom, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, religious liberty, separation of church and state, Supreme Court, tax exempt status, Town of Greece v Galloway, zoning regulations

We take a look at several issues on the religious liberty landscape, from Christmas songs in public schools to prayers at city council meetings to health care mandates. David Cortman, of the Alliance Defending Freedom, provides a review of these cases and addresses some of the challenges that Tony puts before him. This is a wide-ranging discussion that covers some of the more well-known court cases as well as some lesser known issues.

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Joel Fetzer on Confucianism and Democracy

Max Weber once argued that Confucianism did not lend itself to liberal democracy because of its allegiance to social hierarchy and harmony. Prof. Joel Fetzer of Pepperdine University examines this claim with evidence based upon the recent democratization of Taiwan. He argues that although Confucianism was not a cause of the recent democratization, the philosophy is flexible enough to allow for compatability with a variety of democratic norms including indigenous and women’s rights. We also examine the cases of South Korea, China, and Singapore.

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Sarah Bond on the Church and Funerals in Late Antiquity

How were the funerals for the dead managed in the period of “late antiquity,” roughly spanning the middle 3rd to late 6th century? Historian Sarah Bond of Marquette University surveys the “disreputable profession” of funeral workers prior to, and after, the Edict of Milan, noting how the change in church-state relations that occurred had a dramatic impact on the this critical industry. In the post-Constantinian era, funeral workers were often used as bodyguards and personal militaries for bishops, and the process of interring bodies opened the door to a great deal of corruption (rent-seeking) within the Church.

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