In 1966, just over 50 years ago, the distinguished Canadian-born anthropologist Anthony Wallace confidently predicted the global demise of religion at the hands of an advancing science: ‘belief in supernatural powers is doomed to die out, all over the world, as a result of the increasing adequacy and diffusion of scientific knowledge’. Wallace’s vision was
READ MORETwo years ago, Raleigh, North Carolina, was expecting a severe ice storm and some minor accumulation of snow. For those living in the Northeast that is just a typical Tuesday. But for those of us living in North Carolina, it is a reason to go into full panic. The Price of Milk So I decided
READ MOREIf you are one of the millions who passes through New York City via the Cross Bronx Expressway, you have seen up close the devastating impact of New York City’s rent controls. As you grip your steering wheel on the poorly maintained expressway and look at the terrible conditions of the tenements all around, you
READ MOREPresident Donald Trump recently made headlines by pardoning Joe Arpaio, the Arizona sheriff known for his controversial incarceration techniques and political positions. Pundits from all political stripes have weighed in on the gesture, some praising and others condemning the president for his decision. In an embrace of passionate fervor, however, many have missed the opportunity
READ MOREVia the New York Times: “Parents often turn to books to help them navigate complicated, and sometimes uncomfortable, conversations with their children about puberty. This week one such book, ‘Growing Up for Boys,’ by Alex Frith, became the topic of the type of conversation it is supposed to help people avoid. On Aug. 27, Simon
READ MORE“Well, yeah, but most people only lived to the age of 40 back then, so…” This is a common retort I see in response to comparisons between our modern age and the past. It’s intended as a mic drop that supposedly illustrates our superiority to our less scientifically-minded ancestors, who were apparently too wrapped up in superstitious
READ MOREWhen writing this piece, a quote kept rattling around in the back of my head. It was the title of the opening chapter of “The Feminine Mystique,” Betty Friedan’s seminal 1963 feminist manifesto: The Problem That Has No Name. Apologies in advance, for appropriating and altering three of the quotes I find most meaningful from
READ MOREOne of the things I enjoy doing most is taking my older two children (6 and 4) to the movies, something my father often did with me. (I can still name every movie I went to with Dad.) Our culture has changed in a great many ways since I was a youngster, but in some
READ MORE“Un-Islamic, arbitrary, unconstitutional.” That was the judgement of the Indian Supreme Court as it announced a ban on the contentious practice of instant “triple-talaq”. Triple-talaq is a form of Islamic divorce which allows a husband to dissolve his marriage instantly and unilaterally, simply through pronouncing “talaq” (divorce) three times to his wife. While it has
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