Forest Preserve police in Cook County, Ill., found a grisly discovery last week: a decapitated white goat tied to a tree near the Indian Boundary Golf Course. That was strange enough, but last Wednesday an unknown man delivered a smelly box addressed to Tom Ricketts,...
Magic and witchcraft
Penis-Theft Panics Around the World
I recently wrote about penis-theft panics for LiveScience.com. I'd written about it before, for example in the book I co-authored with Bob Bartholomew, "Hoaxes, Myths, and Manias: Why We Need Critical Thinking," and I included it in a talk I gave last year on mass...
How Belief in Magic Spreads HIV in Africa
In many countries throughout the world belief in witches is common, and black magic is considered part of everyday life. A 2010 poll of 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa found that over half of the population believe in magic. Witch doctors are consulted not only for...
The Reality of Demonic Possession and Exorcism
The belief that demons exist and can possess people is of course the stuff of fiction and horror films — but it is also one of the most widely-held religious beliefs in the world. Most religions claim that humans can be possessed by demonic spirits (the Bible, for...
Grave Robbers in Benin Steal Body Parts for Voodoo
In which I discuss grave robbing and body theft from Burke & Hare to modern-day Benin.... Read it HERE.
Vampires, Zombies, and Werewolves–Just in time for Halloween!
I've been writing a lot recently, especially for the great web site LiveScience.com, discussing the truths, myths, history and lore of some of the world's most famous monsters. Below are recent pieces about vampires, zombies, and werewolves... Enjoy! Vampires:...
Interview About Sex Demons on the Project: Archivist podcast
I was recently interviewed by the guys on the Project:Archivist podcast, discussing sex demons in world folklore. You can hear the interview HERE.
Talk at ABQ Natural History Museum on Crystal Skulls 10/10
Albuquerque author and investigator Benjamin Radford (me) will be presenting a free talk on The Mysterious Crystal Skulls. Crystal skulls are among the strangest and most mysterious artifacts in the world. They have been seen in the world’s finest museums, inspired...
New MonsterTalk Episode: My Investigation of the Skeptic-Raping Demon Popobawa
FOR DECADES, legends of a giant sexually-assaulting bat-creature have trickled out of Zanzibar. In this episode of MonsterTalk Drs. Stollznow and Atlantis interview me about my investigation of the creature and the role that the monster called Popabawa has played in...
Judge Overturns Fortunetelling Ban on Freedom of Speech Grounds
Last week a federal judge in Alexandria, Louisiana, overturned a law banning fortunetelling on the basis that it is free speech protected by the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge Dee Drell struck down an ordinance outlawing fortunetelling, astrology, palm reading,...