Mysteria Misc. Maxima: January 4th, 2013

Mysteria Misc. Maxima is a weekly feature which brings together links on religion and esotericism from around the internet.

• Matisyahu talks about life after Hasidim. (CNN)
• A reporter reunites with the Scientology leader who allegedly poisoned his dog and everything goes…really well actually. (LA Mag)
• While we’re talking about Scientology, did you know they had an apocalyptic hideaway in New Mexico? (Live Science)
• Zeus had many special lady friends, here’s an amazing graphic listing them all. (franzikanz via @apophatos)
• Meanwhile, Zeus’ temple in Nemea gets a makeover. (Archaeology News Network via Baring the Aegis)
• Cuba has women Freemasons. Insert discussion about “regularity” of Masonic lodges here. (Havana Times via @masonictraveller)
• The BBC does a long-form piece on Mithras. (BBC via Roger Pearse)
• Edwardian Brits thought mental illness was caused by demonic possession. (Early Modern England via @davidbmetcalfe)
• But Tanya Luhrmann says its ok if you hear voices as long as they come from God, sound like Morgan Freeman. (CNN)
• One of the lost tribes of Israel has been hiding out in…India? (Tablet Mag via PaleoJudaica)
• How useful is a religious studies degree? (Exploring Our Matrix)
• The University of Virginia is hosting a conference on Hermes. (Rogue Classicism)
• Ethan Doyle White has been interviewing Pagan Studies Scholars. Here’s an interview with Chas Clifton. (Albion Calling)
• And if you missed it, his interview with Dave Evans. (Albion Calling)
• Egil Asprem debunks scientific debunkers. (Heterodoxology)
• Damien Echols thought a lot about god, Buddha, and Aleister Crowley while in prison. (The Daily Beast)
• What’s up with so many Pagans getting into Palo Mayombe? (The Wild Hunt)
• Crowley muse Leila Waddell immortalized Thelema in a violin score and one talented person played it for your listening pleasure. (Larkfall via @davidbmetcalfe)
• Five steps to making those New Year’s resolutions happen. (The Magickal Universe)
• Finally, one scholar gives up hope of ever finding the historical Jesus. Magic Jesus, Jewish Jesus, and Jesus with giant eagle wings who fronts a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover band still available for finding. (PaleoJudaica)

Photo by Wlodek Kaluza.