A taxi driver in Sydney told us he was fasting for Ramadan and it was harder in the southern hemisphere when it was summer when the time between sunrise and sunset was longer. Discussion continued on what was required of a good Muslim and got on to why women are required to cover up. He […]
Men less self-controlled than dogs?
Men less self-controlled than dogs?
03 Aug 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, economics of religion, law and economics, liberalism Tags: women's liberation
The New Zealand government unites indigenous knowledge with “western science” by claiming that gods cause earthquakes
26 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of natural disasters, economics of religion, politics - New Zealand Tags: Age of Enlightenment, conjecture and refutation, cranks, free speech, philosophy of science, political correctness, regressive left
A comment by reader Chris Slater called my attention to this article from GeoNet, an organization described as providing “geological hazard information for Aotearoa New Zealand.” It’s also . . . . sponsored by the New Zealand Government through its agencies: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, GNS Science, Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand […]
The New Zealand government unites indigenous knowledge with “western science” by claiming that gods cause earthquakes
Health New Zealand “encourages” its employees to say Māori prayers daily
16 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of religion, liberalism, politics - New Zealand Tags: Age of Enlightenment, free speech, Freedom of religion, political correctness, regressive left
This item, from the Breaking Views website in New Zealand, is one of the rare cases of a Kiwi speaking up against forcible adherence to Māori customs on the job—in this case, saying Māori prayers. First, “Health New Zealand,” the organization in question, is a government agency that, according to its own description: . . […]
Health New Zealand “encourages” its employees to say Māori prayers daily
Why Religious Beliefs Are Irrational, and Why Economists Should Care
22 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, economics of religion
In 2005, I debated my then-colleague Larry Iannaccone on the economics of religion. The turnout — around 300 people at GMU back when it was clearly a commuter school — surprised me and totally shocked Larry. I still remember his eyes bugging out when he entered the auditorium! Though perhaps he was just astounded to…
Why Religious Beliefs Are Irrational, and Why Economists Should Care
Response from Devin Pope, on religious attendance
20 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
All of this is from Devin Pope, in response to Lyman Stone (and myself). Here was my original post on the paper, concerning the degree of religious attendance. I won’t double indent, but here is Devin and Devin alone: “I’m super grateful for Lyman’s willingness to engage with my recent research on measuring religious worship…
Response from Devin Pope, on religious attendance
What Time Is The Protest March To The Iranian Embassy?
18 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of religion, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand, war and peace Tags: free speech, Gaza Strip, Middle-East politics, regressive left, war against terror
Waddayu mean Nothing planned. Surly hundreds of drones rockets including some quite big ones will get the Mintos out protesting the assault on a little democratic nation in the Middle East. The barrage of hundreds of weapons including drones, rockets including some large ones were thwarted by IDF countermeasures with only under 1% reaching Israeli […]
What Time Is The Protest March To The Iranian Embassy?
No holding back
29 Mar 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of religion, liberalism Tags: Age of Enlightenment, Freedom of religion
Claims about Iran (from the comments)
27 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, development economics, economics of crime, economics of religion, growth disasters, law and economics Tags: Iran
I’ve chatted with a lot of Iranians online in the past few years (they’re in Iran). Some of their takes (always subject to the “plural of anecdote is not “data”)… 1. Islam is seen by younger people as the doctrine of a failed government staffed by a bunch of crooks. 2. And it’s a foreign, […]
Claims about Iran (from the comments)
Māori force indigenous prayer on secular district-council meeting
20 Feb 2024 1 Comment
in economics of religion, politics - New Zealand Tags: Age of Enlightenment, free speech, Freedom of religion, political correctness, regressive left
Meanwhile, the fun continues in New Zealand, as this article from Te Ao, which conveys Māori news, attests. In fact, there’s a video, so you can see the whole episode, as well as a transcript of the video. Here’s what happened: A local district council met and one of the participants wanted to recite a […]
Māori force indigenous prayer on secular district-council meeting
Māori official in New Zealand’s Coast Guard insists that prayer to a god is the key to reducing drowning
30 Jan 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of religion, transport economics Tags: Age of Enlightenment, free speech, Freedom of religion, political correctness, regressive left
This very short article appeared in Waatea News, which I gather is a purveyor of news related to the Māori of New Zealand. (It also runs, I believe, the country’s only Māori radio station.) I’m putting it up for one reason, and then we’ll get a break from the Kiwis and the iwi for a […]
Māori official in New Zealand’s Coast Guard insists that prayer to a god is the key to reducing drowning
December 29, 1170: Assassination of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Part I.
30 Dec 2023 Leave a comment
Thomas Becket, also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (December 21, 1119 or 1120 – December 29, 1170), served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then notably as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his death in 1170. He engaged in conflict with King Henry […]
December 29, 1170: Assassination of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Part I.
The Guardian touts the Qu’ran as a guide to life, and a way for Americans to understand why Palestinians are resilient
22 Nov 2023 Leave a comment
If you’ve read the Qur’an, as I have, you’ll realize that it is hardly the book to absorb if you want a peaceful and loving way of life. The verses written later, in particular, are bloodthirsty, oppressive, and misogynist, and those parts, as all Muslims know, take moral precedence over the nicer and earlier parts. […]
The Guardian touts the Qu’ran as a guide to life, and a way for Americans to understand why Palestinians are resilient
Hirsi Ali gets criticism of her newfound Christianity; responds
18 Nov 2023 Leave a comment
in economics of religion, liberalism Tags: Age of Enlightenment, Freedom of religion, The Great Enrichment
Just recently Ayaan Hirsi Ali announced, after years of professing atheism (and rejecting her earlier Muslim faith(, that she’d become a Christian. This was announced in an article in Unherd, but she also discussed it briefly on a video, both of which I posted. Although she wasn’t explicit about what exactly she believed about Christianity, it’s […]
Hirsi Ali gets criticism of her newfound Christianity; responds
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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