The Iranian Zarathustrian origins of Christmas (tags)
The ancients believed that December 25th (according to the Julian calendar) was the birth date of Mithra, the legendary Iranian warrior-cum-superhero, who represented Ahura Mazda (God) in his age-old battle against Ahriman, or Satan.
Gays demonstrate at Vatican for civil unions - Sat Jan 13 (tags)
Members of gay and lesbian associations hold flowers as they demonstrate on St. Peter's square at the Vatican January 13, 2007 in Rome. The groups, which converged on the square in memory of an activist who killed himself there nine years ago, demonstrated against Pope Benedict XVI's latest speech on PACS, Italy's proposed social agreement for unmarried couples.