Owl & Ibis - A Confluence Of Minds

A Zen Priest Reflects on the Origin of Religion The Origin of Religion A Sermon by James Ishmael Ford Patheos February 10, 2019 In O&I’s treatment of this essay, this sermon, I am trying something different. I have invited three friends with expertise in evolutionary anthropology, economics, and sociology to comment and engage in a written discussion. Of the three commenters/discussants, one has experience as a former Christian theology student at a seminary and another as a former Christian cult member. It is hoped the three discussants’ comments will lead to a far-ranging discussion about matters brought up in the sermon in the following areas: -          The origin(s) of religion; -          The validity of the claim that modern spiritualism is making religion more universal and less culture-bound and tribal; -          That u...

The Cult That Made Your Grandmother’s Fine Silverware a video on Today I Found Out - Feed Your Brain A friend asked what I as an ethnographer, a student of Humankind, make of the cult reported on in the above video. My answer: “ Batshittery americana domesticus , anthropologically speaking.” This genus, species and subspecies belongs to the taxonomic family of religious cults and other beliefs and practices that have failed to find a place in mainstream American life. Such cults and their beliefs are not in a dustbin with similar nonsense the likes of which are never to be seen again. This one and its sundry mutant variants await us in a holding pattern in the Ethnosphere . Awaiting what? Awaiting their chance to rejoin us and hopefully get into the mainstream of American thinking. That is, as a new and improved human-made supernatural myth to propel us further toward our place in Abrahamic heaven. But, shockingly (well, not too shockingly), such bizarre approaches...

Thank you to those who attended  Owl & Ibis  on February 12th where a presentation and slideshow, "African Philosophy", was given by Immy Rose Lassiter and yours truly. A PDF of the slideshow is  here . All photos of African life by JEL. We covered a lot of topics yet had plenty of time for questions and discussion. ~ Overview of Africa's Geography, Demography and Major Foreign Influences ~ What, Whose African Philosophy? ~ "Culture Philosophy" & Ethnophilosophy ~ African Culture and Personality ~ "Traditional" African Cultural Characteristics ~ Revitalizing, Reverting to "Traditional" African Ways ~ Case Study: The Bamasaaba of Eastern Uganda ~  Take Home Handout : Excerpts from the book,  Circumcision and Coffee in Uganda   by yours truly. Sincere thanks to the attendees for their interest and their great questions and comments! }:> ~:)

Virtue can only flourish among equals. Mary Wollstonecraft 1759-1797 Davos is a Microcosm of the World – And the Outlook is Grim Fareed Zakaria January 24, 2019 Washington Post “This, then, is the post-American world. Not one marked by Chinese dominance or Asian arrogance. Not an outright anti-American one, but one in which many yearn for a greater U.S. presence. One in which countries are freelancing, narrowly pursuing their own interests, and hoping that the framework of international order remains reasonably stable. But with no one actively shoring up the international system, the great question remains: In a world without leaders, will that system over time weaken and eventually crumble?” This is the Gloom and Doom Fareed. Below is an essay a week later where he comes on as Mr. Sunshine and Hope. In both essays he ignores the fatally flawed, thousand pound gorilla in the room – consumer crony capitalism. Now, let’s consider the above, his first es...