The Naked Truth
Why stop at a bikini? when clothing is not very biblical--at least that is what the 53 year-old nudist Jim Cunningham argues in his book Nudism and Christianity. "Paradoxically, it's the Christians that oppose naturism the most -- next to the Muslims," says Cunningham, "and it's really their Bible that says so many wonderful things about the body." Incidentally, Cunningham is also blind.



(artwork from MotherPie Culture Art Life Media)
Tapping into the Wisdom of Bush
The "Dear Dr. Laura" letter has cropped up again--this time as a "Dear President Bush" letter. The famous letter that circulated across the country six years ago is a sardonic attack on those who use the Bible support their world view--posing questions on how other passages from the Bible may apply to modern life. Originally the letter was posted on the Internet addressed to the conservative and controversial radio host Dr. Laura Schlesinger and became so popular that in six months time it was featured in an episode of West Wing (you can read its full history here).

Today it is being circulated as an address to President Bush in response to his refusal to provide funds for stem cell research. After flattering Bush's mastery of biblical truths, the author asks questions such as: "A friend would like to sell his daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?" The authorship changes with every print (apparently there are many people out there anxious to point out the vagueness and ambiguity of the Bible) but I have never seen a response to any of the authors. If you have, send it my way.

A Flood is Never Just a Flood
Blame it on Noah. Ever since God wiped out humanity save for one family, he has turned into a serial flooder. There were debates about whether the 2004 tsunami was about God's wrath, an Alabama state senator declared that Hurricane Katrina was an effort to wipe out the New Orleans sins of gambling, and now not even mind-your-own-business England can escape divine retribution.

Rainfalls across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Midlands caused rivers to swell, submerging hundreds of homes in what the Bishop of Liverpool and the Bishop of Carlisle call an "act of God." The Daily News reports that they claimed "the devastation was the consequence of the West's decision to ignore Biblical teaching, with an 'arrogant' world 'reaping what we have sown'." Perhaps as a sign from humanity back to God--I mean, er, Hollywood--Evan Almighty, the modern-day Noah story, has been a box office flop. Too many people already know the story too well.