Comparative Religions 2 024, of course! Well. Not so fast.

T he deadline to register to vote in the Texas Democratic and Republican primary elections is February 5. Voters on March 5 will choose their nominees for president, U.S. Senator, all 38 U.S. House members from Texas, and a number of other state and local offices, from the Texas Supreme Court to district attorneys, sheriffs and county commissioners.

I f you’re reading this column, you survived the huldufolk’s antics over the 2023-24 Christmas season. Congratulations! You can also correctly assume that I survived as well since I’m publishing this piece here.

W e’ve come a long way since wolves might have hung around campfires of the earliest humans. Different explanations have been posited as to how humans began to domesticate wild wolves between 14,000 and 29,000 years ago, eventually turning them into man’s best friend.

Comparative Religions A s 2023 transitions into 2024, there are the usual temptations to wonder what the new year will bring and what the future holds. And as we begin to round out the first quarter of the 21st Century, it is only normal to wonder what is happening to religions today will affect religious organizations in the coming years and decades.

A fter the Texas Legislature spent much of 2023 in session, a bevy of new laws go into effect on New Year’s Day, though some have been delayed by lawsuits challenging their constitutionality. The Austin American- Statesman reported on SB 17, a new law that institutes a ban on programs and policies “designed or implemented in reference to race, color, or ethnicity” at Texas public universities or colleges — commonly known as diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.

T his weekend (Saturday for some, Sunday for others) Christians around the world will celebrate a special moment which the western churches call Epiphany. Eastern churches call it Theophany.

T his holiday season I continued what’s become a now-time-honored tradition of giving myself whatever I want for the holidays –things that no one else is likely to give me. Zack does the same. It works out fine that way. Since my birthday falls at the end of December, I consider that part of the holiday season – which of course justifies another gift to myself.

T he ink was barely dry on a law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott that makes unauthorized entry into the United States a state crime before a lawsuit was filed by civil rights groups and El Paso County challenging its constitutionality. The Austin American-Statesman reported the suit was filed in an Austin federal court by the ACLU and two immigrant advocacy groups on behalf of the county.

A s 2023 is about to transition into 2024, there are the usual temptations to wonder what the new year will bring and what the future holds. And as we begin to round out the first quarter of the 21st Century, it is only normal to wonder how what is happening to religions today will affect religious organizations in the coming years and decades.