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Mark Oppenheimer, writing in The Washington Post, suggests Germany’s ban on Scientologists (including Tom Cruise) is an overreaction, and one we’re all a little guilty of. He says it’s Scientology’s similarities to mainstream religion that embarrasses us, not it’s strangeness. Oppenheimer points out that, on inspection, Scientology’s practices are no weirder than more common faith.…

Ever since I heard Common‘s “Retrospect for Life,” a track off his 1997 release “One Day It’ll All Make Sense,” where he ruminates on the mistakes he made as a premature father, I fell in love. I loved his ability to bring introspective thought to music that was all about gang-banging. He was an envelope-pusher,…

Why is it that when someone spreads their wings on television (i.e., reveals that s/he is an angel), I find myself groaning or rolling my eyes in a way that I almost never do if a person, say, sprouts fangs? I am perfectly content with vampires and demons, yet angels provoke a sense of the…

Last year at the Traverse City Film Festival (organized by Michael Moore), most of the documentaries were, to no surprise, about the war in Iraq. This year, however, I was pleasantly surprised that there was a wide range of diversity in the documentary line-up. More importantly, I was pleased that the documentaries I saw did…

“The Bourne Ultimatum” is a compelling movie that all general movie fans should see, that all action fans will love, and that lovers of the timeless story of good vs. evil should appreciate. It’s that good on so many levels. The most complex thing in the Bourne trilogy is the nuanced exploration of good vs.…

Part “March of the Penguins,” part “Inconvenient Truth,” “Arctic Tale” is a new documentary, narrated by Queen Latifah and produced by the National Geographic Society. We’ve got three video clips from the movie: She Could Drown Practicing For the Seal Hunts to Come Refugees Related Features: Idol Chatter Reviews “Arctic Tale” Quiz: How Green Are…

Nine movies. Two panel discussions. Four days. It all adds up to one tired film reviewer–and the week’s not over yet! I have spent most of this week attending the third annual Traverse City Film Festival –a.k.a. “The Film Festival Michael Moore Built”–here in Michigan. This year the festival has grown and improved enormously from…

Atheists in Minnesota are celebrating that their lack of belief now merits an official bookstore category. While most major bookstores have had special sections for books on Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and even the Occult for years, “endcaps” (as these displays are known in the biz) for atheism have only recently started appearing in local Borders…

Many a fellow film critic has looked at me in shock and dismay when they discover that I have never seen the cult comedy/ horror spoof “Shaun of the Dead.” So when the creative team behind that movie released their latest flick, “Hot Fuzz,” earlier this year, I decided I had better take notice. I’m…

If you’re a person of faith looking for a great sound that you can share with your friends and kids–or if you’re a Christian who struggles to be bold and stand up for your faith–then BarlowGirl’s “How Can We Be Silent” is for you! Buy it. Download it. Pass it on. BarlowGirl has a look…
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