KtBlog

Killing the Buddha

Relics & Renovations

By KtBniks | August 29, 2007

One of the reasons KtB has seemed dead these past few months is that we (some of us, anyway) were off on a lengthy Near Eastern adventure. We spent much…

Mansur al-Hallaj hanged and stoned.

How to Make a Martyr

By Martyn Oliver | February 24, 2007

When a death becomes larger than life, memory hangs in the balance.

Benedict XVI visits a mosque.

Let’s Pretend

By Peter Manseau | October 20, 2006

A clash of civilizations, or a failure of the imagination?

"I found no Sufis, just confusion."

Searching for Sufis

By Jill Hamburg Coplan | August 5, 2006

When you look for mystics in a war-torn land, you might find them hiding right in front of you.

Would a children's book be a better response?

A Whole Lot of Stupid

By Martyn Oliver | March 13, 2006

And other factors involved in the transformation of cartoons into riots.

"In Islam, it is not the content of an image that is blasphemous, but the very act of depiction."

The Right to Blaspheme

By Christopher Orlet | February 3, 2006

“God is not mocked,” and other proposed editorial guidelines.

A mosque in Lahore.

The Moderate

By Abbas Zaidi | June 27, 2005

A tale of Westernization, lubricated by beer.

Sudanese street scene

Drinking in Tongues

By Vinton Kevitt | July 8, 2004

In Sudan, a wayward youth faces the wrath of Mom, Dad, and Allah.

"War birds of the Irish, come to remind us they are hungry for eyes."

A Mantra for the Mujahedeen

By Maureen Hurley | November 20, 2001

How do you pray for an enemy?

Ali in the Ring

Muhammad Speaks

By Peter Manseau | October 12, 2001

Cassius Clay vs. Osama bin Laden: A fight for the American idea of Islam.

from the new book, The Orientalist Poster, by Abderrahman Slaoui

Advertising Allah

By KtBniks | June 2, 2001

God is my cruise director. Orientalist travel posters sell art deco Islam to the Western world.

Some taller than the Statue of Liberty, stone Buddhas have stood watch over the Bamiyan Valley for over 1500 years.

Taliban Kills Buddha

By Peter Manseau | March 7, 2001

Islam takes on Buddhism in Afghanistan. A nervous art world attempts to referee. Buddha laughs.