![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/OguZxmitBDp70YaQ-xMXlGDqlod3MNlYrLNYxU62N7k/w:400/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:82/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL3Bob3RvXzUyNTcuanBn.jpg)
Stephen T. Asma is a professor of philosophy at Columbia College in Chicago. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears and Why I am a Buddhist (both forthcoming in 2009); The Gods Drink Whiskey: Stumbling Toward Enlightenment in the Land of the Tattered Buddha; and Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads: The Culture and Evolution of Natural History Museums. His Web site is at www.stephenasma.com.
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/wV6xejpkv4YPrDGpuX8N2y6vEOUvERK8qOmqlj-IzEs/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:sm/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRoZXNldGltZXMuY29tL2ltYWdlcy8zMy8wNS9jdWx0X2FzbWEuanBn.jpg)
Culture
Happy Serf Liberation Day
Free Tibet? Not so fast.
Stephen T. Asma
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/fObzihrolBNWQxCizBhDFTe24s_xFWVUVy45DNHfGEs/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:sm/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRoZXNldGltZXMuY29tL2ltYWdlcy8zMS8xMC90b3lqZXN1cy5qcGc.jpg)
Feature
Holy Toyland
The mega toy retailer, Wal-Mart- is now selling Biblical toys like the talking Jesus
Stephen T. Asma