VATICAN CITY (AP) — Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican’s chief astronomer said in an interview published Tuesday. The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.”How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?” Funes said. “Just as we consider earthly creatures as ‘a brother,’ and ’sister,’ why should we not talk about an ‘extraterrestrial brother’? It would still be part of creation.”

(full story via AP)

Meanwhile, England’s Ministry of Defence just released their notorious “X-Files” — documents detailing claims of UFO sightings around the UK — after decade of secrecy. Most of it reads pretty thin, but coming right after the Vatican’s announcement, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that we’re being prepped for a pretty BIG reveal here….

Check out this sacred Indian Baby Tossing ritual (via This Indifferent Universe - thanks Peter Wu!)

Sam Holt in association with Frank fam Permanent Marks, LLC will screen their Hindu devotional pilgrimage film, “Haro Hara - Pilgrimage to Kataragama, Sri Lanka,” tomorrow, March 26th, 2008 at the Southern Asian Institute at Columbia University. “Haro Hara” follows a growing band of mostly Tamil pilgrims on a 2 month foot journey in honor of the Lord Murugan. This film is crazy for its trance scenes and extensive examination of Hindu devotional practices. Check out a guy who cracks like 50 coconuts on his forehead, the woman who goes into trance and crams her hands into the holes of a cobra’s nest and the dudes who roll around a temple on their stomachs all day long. Amazing!!

Just a couple of reminders where the bunny and chocolate eggs come from….

Barrington Levy: “River Jordan“

This guy is giving McCain’s televangelist buddy, John Hagee, a serious run for his Obama-hatin’ money…. although calling Obama a “long-legged freak” could never top Hagee’s “Katrina was God punishing New Orleans” speech.

Religion is the what of the masses??  This explains so much…. 

“High on Mount Sinai, Moses was on psychedelic drugs when he heard God deliver the Ten Commandments, an Israeli researcher claimed in a study published this week.”

The argument being made is that mind-altering substances – psychotropic plants and whatnot – were an integral part of the religious rites practiced by the Israelites…  Click the link here and read the full story.  It’s excellent.

Our favorite part: “Moses was probably also on drugs when he saw the ‘burning bush,’ suggested Shanon, who said he himself has dabbled with such substances.”   Right on, brother.  Keep doin’ that “research“…. 

Considering the monastic Belgian monks who had out-of-body religious experiences while they were fasting are the same monastic Belgian monks who invented beer… and considering they invented beer as a way to imbibe nutrients during those same fasts… well, let’s just say we’re sensing a pattern here.  

UPPA / Photoshoot

(via: The Sun)

Cornell West and Mos Def speak with Bill Mahr on the Jena 6 situation, the presidential race, and even get into O.J at the end, where it gets akward. In the second clip they get into religion, and it gets real heavy…

November 15, 1968 - November 13, 2004.  photo by Sue Kwon.