Volume 120 Issue 3 May/June 2005

Features

Defender of faiths: Laurie Taylor interviews Eileen Barker: Eileen Barker, the world's leading expert on religious cults, tells Laurie Taylor how it takes an agnostic to truly understand why people choose to believe
First amendments: Shannon Gilreath reveals how Christian fundamentalists are rewriting American history
Nothing for the weekend: Terry Sanderson warns that conscience chemists are coming your way
Onions in your navel: Sally Feldman sticks a few pins in the ancient custom of cursing
How long does it take to belong?: Ireland is attempting to cope with unprecedented levels of immigration. Mark Maguire asks if the experience of the Vietnamese 'boat people' can offer any lessons
China Syndrome: Hugo de Burgh reports on the emergence of investigative journalism in the Peopleï¿½s Republic ï¿½ and its unexpected effects

Floodgates of reform: Elections in June offer the chance for transformation in Iran. Mohsen Sazegara, a former aide to Ayatollah Khomeini, offers his solution for escaping theocracy

The holy zygote: Raffaella Malaguti on Romeï¿½s birth controllers
Not waving, but dying: "Down a bit lower. That's it. Now, look at the camera. And now look puzzled. That doesn't look like 'puzzled'. Really puzzled. Hold it. Now, can you get even lower?"
Buggering on a pinhead: Martin Rowson is delighted to report that religion is on its last legs
Rotten to the core: After the free-for-all of sentimentality that reigned from John Paul II's faltering on Easter Sunday, through his demise and funeral, right up to the emergence of white smoke from a Vatican chimney, we can now settle back into our regular pattern.
Requiem for a Nightmare: Julian Baggini holds back the tears for John Paul II
Very big ideas: Julian Baggini weighs up a hefty tome
Not the Natural History Museum: Padraig Reidy misses a few links in Portsmouth Harbour