Sometime in the late 80s I saw a comedy sketch on TV which combined all the major world religions into one quasi-rap song (or madrigal-chant). The only parts I remember are "Sister Mary Elizabeth, hit me with a stick!" "Oh by the way, have you been born again?" and "Hare Krishna Hare Rama, here's your cookbook, where's my dollar?" Anyone know what this was? I promise I didn't make it up.
posted by pammeke
on May 16, 2013 -
2 answers
I was born in a very, very devout Christian family. Went to Christian schools and church. For a long time my faith was the most important thing to me and then as I started getting older (18) I began to doubt. This doubt only increased to the point that by the time I was 25 or 26 (I'm 33 now) I became"atheist". Now, I see that faith played a very important role in emotionally stabilizing me and giving me hope and I want something like that back. My question is why did I lose my faith (when all my family still holds it dear)? And how do I find something equally as helpful in my life?
Thank you so much!
posted by learninguntilidie
on Apr 22, 2013 -
52 answers
I am looking for books investigating the occult as a phenomenon, its history, and its possibilities. Maybe that sounds simple, but I'm also picky.
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posted by parkbench
on Apr 4, 2013 -
19 answers
Does the term "homegoing" have a wide use across Christian denominations?
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posted by psoas
on Mar 20, 2013 -
36 answers
I am a scientifically-minded person who is trying to sort out my religious beliefs. I think it would be helpful to read some debates between deism, atheism, pantheism (Spinozism), and/or a scientifically-grounded theism. Can anyone recommend me books or essays that discuss these topics in ways that are engaging, well-thought-out, and thorough?
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posted by capricorn
on Mar 19, 2013 -
16 answers
How does Brigham Young University teach American History? Do they tell students that Jesus actually came to America? And how do they deal with the story that Missouri was the real Garden of Eden?
posted by mmf
on Mar 4, 2013 -
14 answers
Roomies' religious convictions are colliding with my lifestyle. They're saying no sex in the house, period. They want overnight guests to sleep in a separate room. I really need the house. How do I manage this?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 15, 2013 -
52 answers
I'm from the U.S. and I've been invited to an academic conference on "Religion in Modern Society" at a university in PRC. I need a visa.
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posted by reverend cuttle
on Feb 1, 2013 -
8 answers
Where can I find the George Carlin quote, "Before every football game, both teams pray they'll win. One team always loses."
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posted by incandescentman
on Jan 30, 2013 -
4 answers
How do atheist or otherwise non-religious parents teach their kids about the Abrahamic mythology?
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posted by looli
on Jan 24, 2013 -
44 answers
I am a first-year religion teacher at a middle school. I am currently teaching christianity, and am planning on teaching Judaism and Islam to my sixth grade class. I have been looking for a textbook or curriculum I could use to help guide me. Does anybody know of one? I have seen college textbooks, but generally they are too complicated to even pull readings from.
posted by Lee Shore
on Jan 14, 2013 -
7 answers
Why does Mircea Eliade get short shrift in Robert N. Bellah's
Religion in Human Evolution?
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posted by ibmcginty
on Dec 18, 2012 -
3 answers
I'm looking for some good armageddons. I'm MCing an End-of-the-World poetry reading on December 21st and I want to read a few short passages from apocalyptic texts. I've already settled on the Book of Revelations and Ragnarök, but I'd like to cast a wide net and find some non-Western and/or non-religious/mythological descriptions of the end times. Can you recommend a good doomsday for me to read?
posted by Kattullus
on Dec 17, 2012 -
26 answers
I am trying to find some reputable graduate schools that offer masters degrees in Christian theology which can be completed mostly or completely online.
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posted by michellenoel
on Nov 21, 2012 -
16 answers
I feel a calling to learn more about my religious faith and lead a more spiritual life. How can I do this in a meaningful way when my partner does not share this interest?
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 19, 2012 -
15 answers
Did the Catholic Church actively suppress literacy and education during the Middle Ages, or was it simply a byproduct of the era?
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posted by zarq
on Oct 4, 2012 -
28 answers
My girlfriend and I want to do that 'public display of commitment' thing, but we don't want to get
married. Heterosexual
Civil Partnerships are not yet available in the UK. Can we do it elsewhere with legal status? Or should we wait?
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posted by bollockovnikov
on Sep 20, 2012 -
31 answers
[Dewey Decimal Filter] Looking for information about the Dewey Decimal System and its history of revisions. In particular: When and why did Mormonism get moved from Dewey Decimal classification 290 (non-Christian religions) to 289 (other Christian denominations)?
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posted by exphysicist345
on Sep 11, 2012 -
13 answers
Can “modern” people
actively believe in God? How do they integrate their believes with their “conservative” religion? How do they practice their believes?
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posted by arhammer
on Sep 10, 2012 -
54 answers
I need help in guiding my brother-in-law, who may be developmentally challenged, with some important life decisions. I am pretty much his only family contact, am at a bit of a loss, and not quite sure where to start; (slightly lengthy) details inside.
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 23, 2012 -
12 answers
Have leaders of non-Christian religious faiths spoken out publicly on the immigration issue in the United States?
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posted by quodlibet
on Aug 18, 2012 -
3 answers
I agreed many years ago with my wife that our children would be raised Christian. I am not Christian, nor have I ever been. I was raised as a Unitarian Universalist and am now an agnostic and secular person. How should I respond to religious questions that my kids ask me? I don't want to go back on our agreement, but I also need to be true to myself and don't want to lie to the kids.
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posted by Area Man
on Aug 8, 2012 -
50 answers
Why is it that many devout religious people are tolerant of other faiths that completely contradict their own, but fear and mistrust atheists?
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posted by vogon_poet
on Aug 7, 2012 -
57 answers
Do you know of (or have you had) a vision of heaven or hell that doesn't conform to that person's (or your) religion?
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posted by Nufkin
on Jul 22, 2012 -
13 answers
What is the relationship between the ritual and the algorithm? Are all rituals algorithmic?
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posted by 0bvious
on Jul 17, 2012 -
16 answers
What is the origin of this (slightly NSFW) fascinating list of "
doorways to demonic possession," including, along with classic "occult" practices, drug use, and popular films with supernatural themes, such interesting additions as postmodernism and cyberpunk culture?
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posted by DrMew
on Jul 16, 2012 -
11 answers
How and why does meditation work? How does one do it properly (that is, in the way in which one may extract the most benefits)?
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 29, 2012 -
29 answers
What are some excellent magazines, blogs, or forums that investigate how we should live our lives--not from strictly scientific, academic, faith-based or new-age points of view (though some of any of these is fine)--but through a wider, more eclectic spiritual/ethical lens?
posted by shivohum
on Jun 28, 2012 -
4 answers
Looking for: Religious conversion stories in literature, from Paul onward. Specifically: from non-belief to belief. William James covers this nicely. And I seem to recall Dostoyevsky addresses the issue at least once in his novels (which?). Also C.S. Lewis, I think, somewhere. Other thoughts?
posted by Hobbacocka
on May 16, 2012 -
20 answers
I am a virtual aunt to a young woman who has never masturbated. She believes that she needs to learn, but she is worried that god will stop loving her.
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posted by Fenriss
on May 14, 2012 -
14 answers
I want to learn more about the philosophy of science, the validation of its methods, its relation to faith and our core existence, its weaknesses, its controversies, its fundamental warps and wefts into the fabric of our society.
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posted by Peregrin5
on May 3, 2012 -
32 answers
Is there a prohibition or taboo against fictitious storytelling (written or spoken) in any religion or religious tradition that you know of?
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posted by cairdeas
on May 3, 2012 -
13 answers
So, my father wrote a book. He may even have had it self-published. I'm proud of him, but since the subject matter involves his religious beliefs which I do not share, I don't really want to read it and I certainly don't want to talk to him about it. He fed-exed one of the first copies to me. What are my polite, respectful options here?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 17, 2012 -
23 answers
I need to word a kind and compassionate email (or phone call) to my mother. Can you help me do this?
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posted by Sassyfras
on Apr 13, 2012 -
13 answers
Is my friend undergoing a spiritual awakening or having a psychotic episode? As an atheist how do I support him either way?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 5, 2012 -
26 answers
What should I get my sister for her (Roman Catholic) confirmation? Wrinkle: I'm an atheist.
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 4, 2012 -
31 answers
Looking for recommendations for books on Christian apologetics that take seriously the reality of evolution rather than denying it in favor of the argument from design.
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posted by huxham
on Apr 3, 2012 -
12 answers
