How is it that humans can feel so different from their fellow humans, and yet feel a kinship and commonality with creatures of other species? And of all other land-animals, none looks as “other” as the elephant, but we have a strange history of a deep-felt connection with this stony-skinned gentle giant. john (lower case … Continue reading Something About Elephants

Winter comes, and with it, the perfect excuse to stop feeling guilty about wanting to stay indoors all the time. Most humans in the modern world spend most of their time inside. How did we get to be this way?john (lower case intentional) Snodgrass is a frequent and popular speaker at UU Amherst. An instructor … Continue reading “Homebody”

Why does the pig get such a bad reputation in religion? And how has this creature helped to shape human history?john (lower case intentional) Snodgrass is a frequent and popular speaker at UU Amherst. An instructor in Religion at Canisius University, john is also a playwright and author of many books, the most recent being … Continue reading When Pigs Fly

How did a mythical sea-monster get into the Bible? Why did it have to be killed, and will people really eat it? We’ll be looking at this strange beast and some of its ancient relatives, and what this all has to do with the struggles of modern faith.

Fire has a special place in every religion, often as a portal between the solid world and the spirit world. We hear that we have “domesticated” fire but it is not our pet, as we learn when fires spread through parts of the country. We’ll be talking about the sacred and dangerous aspects of flame.john … Continue reading Campfire Stories

The adoption of a dog ushers in a new beginning, but the human-canine relationship has been going on for as long as either of us remember. john (lower case intentional) Snodgrass is a frequent and popular speaker at UU Amherst. An instructor in Religion at Canisius University, john is also a playwright and author of … Continue reading A Whiff of Change

You don’t need to sleep all winter to awaken in the spring. john (lower case intentional) Snodgrass is a frequent and popular speaker at UU Amherst. An instructor in Religion at Canisius University, john is also a playwright and author of many books, the most recent being Shakespeare’s Goddess.

Anxieties can swarm like insects, and insects swarm like anxieties. When we’re feeling overrun and overwhelmed – what can we do in our little corner of the world? Maybe it’s time to clean the kitchen. john (lower case intentional) Snodgrass is a frequent and popular speaker at UU Amherst. An instructor in Religion at Canisius … Continue reading Creeps

Some species of animal will accept humans as part of their community, and this has made these “livestock” animals vulnerable to domestication and exploitation. But the bonds between herders and animals have also produced powerful religious symbols of protection and care.john (lower case intentional) Snodgrass is a frequent and popular speaker at UU Amherst. An … Continue reading Lock, Stock and Barrel

How many members does it take to make a community? And how do commonalities, and differences, help a species to survive? john (lower case intentional) Snodgrass is a frequent and popular speaker at UU Amherst. An instructor in Religion at Canisius University, john is also a playwright and author of many books, the most recent … Continue reading Two by Two