IN THIS ISSUE

CONTENTS
VOLUME 121 NO 3 MAY/JUNE 2006
COVER STORY

CULTURE

33 34

LOST GODS Andrew Mueller remembers the New York Dolls BOOKS MARTIN ROWSON on Will Eisner pioneer of the graphic novel TOBY SAUL enjoys the grim power of late Roth PAUL KURTZ faces the challenge of the Christian right LEWIS WOLPERT considers the legend of Stephen Jay Gould TONY RUSSELL visits Satchmo’s city JUDITH VIDAL-HALL on the worst kind of censorship

12

SPIRITED AWAY
Supporters claim that mysticism has a basis in science and reason. Poppycock, says Meera Nanda
FEATURES

8 22

SEX CRIMES Brian Whitaker on homosexuality in the Arab world MEME WARS Can evolution explain culture? Adam Kuper and Susan Blackmore debate

39

INVOCATION A new poem by Julian Turner

‘I’m getting toasted bibles with a hint of corduroy’

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BECAUSE YOU’RE WORTH IT Why are religions in such a tangle about women’s hair, asks Sally Feldman

Get yourself a bargain at New Humanist’s Wine Club see Page 19
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