England’s shocking cricket defeat at the hands of Australia in 1882 may have sowed the seeds for the legalisation of cremation within Great Britain. It was the first time that they had been beaten on their home turf, and a mock obituary mourning the death of English cricket followed soon after, joking that English Cricket was to be cremated. The author, Reginald Shirley Brooks, likely did this on purpose; by mentioning cremation (at the time a touchy subject), he had boosted its publicity, helping cremation advocates win over public opinion. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
