Deep Play

“Poetic Faiths Vol. I” Reviewed for the International Journal for the Study of New Religions

Click here to read the full review by Finnish scholar Essi Mäkelä: Since their basis of practice is not a historical writing or tradition/ritual that has been followed for hundreds of years, for many new religious movements it might be hard to see themselves as belonging to the category, while at the same time they … Read more“Poetic Faiths Vol. I” Reviewed for the International Journal for the Study of New Religions

Visiting the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (Hudson Valley, New York)

The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors … The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors represents the life’s work of pioneering visionary artists Alex and Allyson Grey. After outgrowing their New York City studio in 2009, the Greys moved to the small town of Wappingers Falls in the Hudson Valley. CoSM is now a campus-like arrangement in the woods, … Read moreVisiting the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (Hudson Valley, New York)

The Cortège: A Festive Funeral for Our Times

According to The Cortege website: The Cortège is a participatory procession occurring outdoors at dusk. It is a revival of the lost arts of mythic pageantry, and a festive funeral for our times. The evening begins with a brief orientation, followed by a preshow with food & beverage options, and live music. At nautical twilight, … Read moreThe Cortège: A Festive Funeral for Our Times

First Public Shrine to the Flying Spaghetti Monster (Solec-Zdrój, Poland)

The unveiling of the world’s first public Pastafarian shrine is scheduled for Saturday, September 27 at 3 p.m. The sculpture was created by artist Bartosz Banasik of the Słaboszów commune, who said: I love spirituality in its broadest sense. I’ve created many religious objects, primarily for Christian denominations. When a representative of the Flying Monster … Read moreFirst Public Shrine to the Flying Spaghetti Monster (Solec-Zdrój, Poland)

The Clock People (from “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues”)

Above: Pat Morita in the godawful film version of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, which omits the Clock People storyline entirely. For your own sake, read the novel instead. The Clock People manage their anarchism (if that is not a contradiction) simply because they have channeled all of their authoritarian compulsions and control mania into … Read moreThe Clock People (from “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues”)

“The Rise of Religious Naturalism: A New Public Theology of Sacred Nature”

Wayne Martin Mellinger writes on the past and future of religious naturalism, arguing in favor of a more Dionysian, intuitive, deeply playful approach than has often been evident in this niche movement: Abstract The Rise of Religious Naturalism: A New Public Theology of Sacred Nature explores the emergence of Religious Naturalism (RN) as both a … Read more“The Rise of Religious Naturalism: A New Public Theology of Sacred Nature”