Read about political philosopher Karl Popper, Galileo’s persecutor Urban VIII, publisher E. Haldeman-Julius, the “Age of Chivalry,” science writer James Gleick, black activist and social critic James Baldwin, Edwardian poet Rupert Brooke and more …

It was on this date, August 2, 1924, that American writer, social critic and civil rights activist James Baldwin was born James Arthur Baldwin in Harlem, New York City, U.S.A. Known chiefly for his semi-autobiographical Bildungsroman,* Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953), which examines the role of the Christian Church in the lives of […]

It was on this date, August 1, 1954, that American science writer James Gleick was born in New York City. A Harvard graduate, Gleick worked for ten years as an editor and reporter for the New York Times. He not only profiled many scientists for the Times, including evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould, but wrote […]

Read about the penalty for teaching science in science class, Gregor Mendel and genetics, “Harry Potter” actor Daniel Radcliffe, Latin American liberator Simón Bolívar, groundbreaking physician Guy de Chauliac, George Bernard Shaw, Italian poet Giosuè Carducci and more …

Read about Ingmar Bergman, the sadistic First Crusade, Muhammad’s Hegira, Phyllis Diller, Richard Branson, Christianizing the Indians, the first movie kiss and more …

It was on this date, July 18, 1950, that British entrepreneur Richard Branson was born. Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group, which notably includes Virgin Records, Virgin Airlines, and 400 other companies. As of 2012, according to Forbes, Branson is the 4th richest citizen of the United Kingdom, with an estimated net worth […]

It was on this date, July 14, 1918, that Swedish film and theater director Ingmar Bergman was born Ernst Ingmar Bergman in Uppsala. Although the son of a Lutheran pastor, and reared in a devout Lutheran family, Bergman said he lost his faith at age eight but did not come to terms with his nonbelief […]

Read about Robert A. Heinlein, Kevin Bacon, The Báb and myth accretion, John Calvin, the Christian “fatwa” of excommunication, prayer in school, the Third Secret of Fátima revealed and more …

It was on this date, July 8, 1958, that American film and stage actor Kevin Bacon was born. Born Kevin Norwood Bacon and reared in in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 17 he left for New York City to become an actor. After some struggle, he landed a noteworthy role in Diner (1982), then two years later […]

Read about compelling Genesis as history, actor Charles Laughton, the failure of Nostradamus, humorist Dave Barry, Italian liberator Giuseppe Garibaldi, the government-favored religion of the Salvation Army, burning Jan Hus for his opinions and more …