fear on Vice

Editing Homophobia out of the “Islamic Tradition”

Slave rape, marital rape, and plural marriage might be unpleasant to consider as part of Islamic sexuality, but they are deeply embedded in our established sources. But I do not believe that Islamic tradition is frozen in stone. Every translation is an interpretation, and every interpretation is a choice. Full story

'The Boondocks' Creator Aaron McGruder Tells Us About 'The Uncle Ruckus Movie'

I chatted with the creator of 'The Boondocks' about a live-action film starring Uncle Ruckus and a bunch of other things like black self-hatred, post-Obama race relations, and why Herman Cain is the real-life Uncle Ruckus. Full story

What the Czech Play That Coined the Term 'Robot' Tells Us About Today's Robonomics

Playwright Karel Capek was going to call the artificial workers in his play "Labori," but his brother suggested “robots,” instead. It’s not surprising then, that the robots in 'Rossum's Universal Robots' feel like a pretty thinly-veiled metaphor. Full story

Make Sure You’re Alive to Collect

Gun-Crazed and Dangerous, My Aunt Debra Haunted My Family for 20 Years

It was Christmas of 1990 in my grandmother’s house. My Aunt Debra reached behind her and pulled a bullet from a box on a nearby bookshelf. She held it between her thumb and forefinger, looked at my mother, and said, “Janna, this has your name on it.” Full story

Some Scary Shit

Here are 150 things that spook the world's smartest people. Full story

Living the American Dream in the West Bank

Hanging Out with Israel’s Illegal Homesteaders

Prospective settlers of Hashmonaim receive a handy FAQ sheet: “Is this area over the ‘Green Line?’ ” reads one question. “Geographically and tax-wise, yes,” the sheet explains. But because it’s guarded by armed men and the Israeli government sanctions the settlement, Hashmonaim d… Full story

Dogmageddon

Subtle Forces

The crazies of Hinduism aren't as in-your-face as, say, a suicide bomber or a Baptist minister calling for the end of Planned Parenthood. But they can certainly hold their own when it comes to mistreating women. Full story

Guns in the Sun

In Florida They Will Shoot You Dead, and It’ll Probably Be Legal

There are 270 million legal guns in the US. Regardless of where you stand on the issue of firearms laws, you might say that the situation presents a wicked problem—something that can’t be objectively solved or even described. Full story

Dogmageddon

Watch This Hero

When you first start listening to Preacher Phil Snider's speech on gay marriage, you'll probably want to duck out because he sounds like a hateful lunatic who thinks that gays and pedophiles are cut from the same cloth. But stick it out, it's worth it. Full story

Shiva’s Wedding

Love (and Marriage) in the Himalayas

We’d been in India for a month, and it looked like the wedding wasn't going to happen. The last two times I’d been married my brides had been enthusiastic—they were insistent, even. Now I was getting married for a third time to a woman who didn’t want to marry me by a Tibetan Bud… Full story