Recently in Whatever Category

• India: Four jailed for murdering a woman they believed was a witch. 4 get lifer in murder case—OneIndia News, 2nd February 2011
• Bangladesh: In this country, a married man having sex with a 14-year-old would be before the courts. Note that this appears to be an extrajudicial killing, as this type of religious punishment is illegal in Bangladesh. Four arrested after Bangladesh girl 'lashed to death'—BBC News, 2nd February 2011.
• United States: Wizard from child abusing cult upset that people are going elsewhere for their spiritual fix. Exorcist warns parents of rise in ‘demonic’ websites—Catholic Herald, 2nd February 2011.
• India: Superstition over witchcraft has led to the murder of three persons in two days in Keonjhar district's Daitari and Telkoi police station areas. Sorcery claims three in Keonjhar—Times of India, 2nd February 2011.
• United States and Egypt: A perfectly rational analysis of the root causes of the events in Egypt! Georgia Nicols: Pluto cycle means major upheaval in Egypt—The Province, 2nd February 2011.
• Israel: Ancient problem solved—it belonged to the Raelians all along! UFO hovers over Jerusalem shrine—Daily Telegraph, 2nd February 2011.
• United States: Faith-Healing Parents Sentenced—NBC Philadelphia, 2nd February 2011.

Mister Sharp explains:

I cannot better this headline, so here's a link to a story in Bartholomew's Notes on Religion: US Wingnuts Accuse UK Daily Mail of Being In Bed with Islamic Supremicists.

From Failblog, and entitled Good News Fail:

Ben Goldacre has just recommended that old classic, How to lie with statistics, while analysing a newspaper "survey". But what amused me was the "sponsored link" I saw when I clicked on the Amazon link—it's a book I've been meaning to read since it was a set text at university.

A New World Order: Coming Soon
www.worldslastchance.com USA & Papacy Behind it: Are you Ready? Learn Bible Prophecy.

No, I haven't checked it, despite its probable relevance to this year's Annual End-of-the world Post.

Author NancyKay Shapiro spotted an interesting suggestion for Chanukah in her local deli.

• United States: Jerry Falwell is dead. As with Andrea Dworkin, I'll stick to my mother's advice about not saying anything if I have nothing nice to say. You may choose to do otherwise. US evangelist Jerry Falwell dies—BBC News, 15th May 2007.
• United States: Wiccan woman on the recieving end of Christian love. Diatribe possible hate crime—Times-Union, 15th May 2007.
• England: A Roman Catholic priest is on trial, accused of paying to have an 11-year-old girl groomed for sex. If he's found guilty, let's see how his church can blame this one on pooves. Priest 'paid for girl's grooming'—BBC News, 15th May 2007.

• Skull in woods puzzles officials—St. Petersburg Times, 22nd February 2007.
• Swedish Church agrees to gay marriage—Gay.com news, 20th March 2007.
• Indian violence against women accused of witchcraft. Witch hunt—The Guardian, 21st March 2007.

United States: A most unusual lawsuit is taking place in New York, in which a man is suing an estate agency over a rather odd incident which allegedly took place as he was trying to sell his flat:

Daniel Farash said he returned home to his three-bedroom apartment on West 79th Street after a weekend away to discover many of his mattresses had been urinated on, his belongings broken and laid out in strange patterns - and his broker naked and chanting in a closet.

I was ambushed. She came out of that closet like a lunatic. She was naked holding my mother's vase in one hand and a towel in another and screaming all this nonsense, Farash, 44, told The Post.

Portions of my house were turned into . . . a satanic temple . . . like some sort of witchcraft. I was in shock. You're talking about your home - you're talking about your real-estate broker.

He claims that the incident caused him to sell his flat for $500,000 less than the $1.2 million market value of the property (for a three bedroom flat? I thought the Edinburgh housing market was over-inflated!) and left him with post-traumatic stress.

THE DEVIL'S APT. BROKER—New York Post, 25th September 2006.

England: The Church of England is so desparate to attract people to their imaginary friend that they have resorted to bribing the public with chocolate.

The fairtrade chocolate will be given out as part of 'Back to Church Sunday' - the latest attempt by the Church of England to halt the long-term decline in its numbers.

Hundreds of churches across the Dioceses of Derby, Ripon and Leeds, Manchester, Wakefield, Oxford, Guildford and individual churches around the country have already taken delivery of their 'Back to Church Box'.

I'm afraid that most of us who like the stuff already have plenty in stock, and can sing to ourselves in the shower, without having to get up on a Sunday morning.

C of E to lure lapsed worshippers with free chocolate—Ekklesia News, 19th September 2006.

Scotland: A Dundee service was made considerably more entertaining when the minister popped out to powder his nose, and forgot to remove his clip on microphone first.

The Rev John Hawdon was standing in for Elizabeth Kay at Longforgan Parish Church in Perthshire.

But when nature called during a break in proceedings, he forgot to switch off his microphone, which broadcast his every splash and sigh to the congregation.

Speaking at his home in Dundee last night, Mr Hawdon said: I actually had a walk during the service, as I often do. But the congregation must have heard everything. I wasn't aware that I still had my microphone on.

A parishioner said: It was mortifying. Every sound boomed and echoed around the church. We all sat there looking at each other, totally embarrassed. One or two folk managed a wee giggle.

Minister's microphone causes a wee splash at church—The Scotsman, 19th May 2006 (thanks Roy!).

Ireland: A number of churches illegally broadcasting services have caused problems at Dublin Airport, with bursts of static interfering with air traffic control radio. The priests concerned were broadcasting as a service to housebound parishoners, and the relevant authority is now working on a way to let them do so legally, and without causing problems.

On a wing and a prayer: radio sermons risk flights—The Guardian, 11th May 2006.