Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol is an awesome movie from Brazil from 1964, directed by Glauber Rocha, that inspired El Topo and others.

Here's what it's about (from IMDb): The journey is Manuel's, an impoverished farmer who is radicalized after killing his boss who (like evil capitalists do) attempted to cheat Manuel of his wages. Manuel then finds God, in the form of a self-proclaimed Saint named Sebastian. Before long, Sebastian's blood thirsty spell over Manuel is broken by Rosa, Manuel's dutiful (and long-suffering) wife. But soon after they're free from Sebastian's grip, Manuel is seduced by the charms of a charismatic and similarly blood thirsty bandit named Corisco. Such is the way with Manuel, doomed to follow, and it is this theme that strangles the life out of Rocha's film.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Religion Profiles:
Gnosticism
Jehovah's Witnesses
People's Temple
Santeria
AA (yes, it is a religion: " The Twelve Traditions also have a decidedly religious tone, referring to "a loving God," "He," and "Himself." 4 The references to God, the concept of the individual powerless against alcohol in the first step, the confession seen in the fifth step, and the idea of "Continuance" in the tenth and twelfth steps come directly from the Oxford Group, which was an evangelical Christian movement (Bufe: 62). The Oxford Group, a "First Century Fellowship," attempted to duplicate the fellowship of the Apostles 10 . AA finds its direct roots in evangelical Christianity, and is clearly a religious organization (Bufe: 82). In spite of AA's straightforwardly religious origins, beliefs, and practices, it presents itself as a non-religious organization and not "allied with any religious organization.")

religions I did not find on this site:
The Source Foundation
Sufism
Fans of Philip K. Dick(yes it is a religion: see: http://www.adherents.com/people/pd/Philip_K_Dick.html)
Church of the Subgenius
Vodun

Monday, June 08, 2009

Show at Boulder coffee shop on June 27th at Alexander St. location (unconfirmed - but probably there) with Ben Lawler. See ya there.