By E. Brooks Holifield Many Western Europeans think of Americans as hopelessly, bafflingly, and dangerously religious. Many Americans think of Western Europeans as distressingly, inexplicably, and unrelentingly secular. In 2009, the German sociologist Hans Joas observed that “it is widely
Sacred Guests
Holy Smoke
By Shalom Goldman Since the 1960s many in America’s alternative religious communities have embraced the use of marijuana and other mind-altering substances in their religious rituals. By hearkening back to Native American rites, these religious practitioners can point to a
Sacred Matters.
By Louis A. Ruprecht Jr. I was delighted when I first heard of the possibility that this important new online journal was to be created. I was even more delighted when asked to participate in its creation, formation, and custodial
Sacred Social Media
The sacred is social. That means Sacred Matters wants to hear from our readers through social media. As with our letters, we want your feedback on our stories. We want to know what you think is sacred. We want