Unto Us ‘Cultural Glue’ is Born: More than a quarter of adults in Britain do not know where Jesus was born, a survey has suggested. Only 12% can answer four basic questions about the nativity. Says Paul Woolley, director of the think tank that commissioned the story, “If we are serious about social cohesion we can’t afford to ignore the stories that have bound us together as a culture for 1,000 years.” Ah yes, Jesus as cultural glue. I knew there must be a reason for the incarnation, death and resurrection, but I could never quite put my finger on it. Thanks for clarifying Paul.

Indulgences, They’re Baaackkk: Actually, they were never really gone despite that whole Reformation thing. But they were at least shelved to some degree following Vatican II. Pope John Paul II offered plenary indulgences in 2000, but the current Pope seems even more fond of them and, among other recent offerings, has now offered Catholics reduced time in Purgatory for making pilgrimages to Lourdes. Too bad they’re not offering reduced airfare. Vacation anyone?

Vote Richard Dawkins for the New Humanist Bad Faith Award: Irony of ironies, voting is open for the New Humanist 2007 Bad Faith award and Richard Dawkins is among the ten finalists. Votes will “decide who will be crowned 2007’s most scurrilous enemy of reason” and so far only 2,082 total votes have been cast. Although I have to admit there are some other doosies on the list, wouldn’t it be fun to see Dawkins crowned? His rabid and dogmatic atheism is as distasteful as the religious fundamentalism he hopes to counter. Go and vote, and pass this link along. Voting closes December 16. (But, hey, if you can’t help voting for Chuck Norris over Dawkins, I won’t hold it against you.)

Consumerism Doesn’t Make You Happy: A new study has found that the cost-free pleasures of life make us the happiest. Researchers interviewed lottery winners and average people to determine that life satisfaction improved as a result of the simple pleasures of life instead of big purchases. It would be interesting to correlate this study with issues of buying pain coming out of “neuromarketing” research. Also, this would be an interesting discussion starter about the nature of happiness as we head into the thick of the buying, I mean, Christmas season.