A City Set Upon A Hill
Jesus is saying something challenging: the community he's building doesn't operate on the logic of retaliation. It breaks cycles instead of perpetuating them.
Author: Nicholas Knisely
By This Sign You Will Conquer
Jesus describes a world where the poor are lifted up, the mourners are comforted, the peacemakers are honored, and those who suffer for righteousness are named as blessed. Micah describes a people shaped by justice, kindness, and humble faithfulness. Both texts point toward a way of life that runs directly against the grain of the principalities and powers of this world. The message of the Cross is that this way of life — this way […]
Tribalism turned to 11 via the Outrage Machine
Om Malik: Our civic life is being poisoned by our inability to seek the common good because we're too busy defending "our side". And our tech is accelerating the harm.
Large and small – Gothic style churches dot RI landscapes
Rhode Island is home to stunning Gothic churches characterized by pointed arches, stained glass, and intricate craftsmanship. These churches not only showcase the varied Gothic tradition but also serve as local landmarks. Notably, four of the seven highlighted are Episcopal congregations, with one unique church housed in a barn.
And immediately they left their nets and followed him
We are never really ready to respond when God appears in our life and calls us to action. And that doesn't seem to matter. What matters is trusting that God will supply what we lack as we respond in faith to what God expects.
Thilo, Kunst and Marcus: We’re in danger…
AI-generated bot swarms pose a significant threat to democracy by making fringe views appear mainstream through manipulated social evidence. These bots can compromise training data for future AI models, exacerbating misinformation. While banning isn't a solution, changing the economic incentives behind manipulation is crucial to safeguarding democratic integrity.
Immigration gave America a huge advantage
This quote from John Steele Gordon came up in my daily review of passages that I’ve highlighted in my reading over the years: Worth keeping in mind right now.
Morality appears to be hard-coded in our brains.
Some moral acts matter more than others, study shows: Researchers found a surprising finding […]. Even when participants were mentally overloaded—trying to remember long number sequences while judging others—their reactions to fairness and property violations stayed strong. “This suggests these judgments are automatic and intuitive, not the result of slow, careful thinking,” noted Ybarra, professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. From a study done that shows that morality matters in forming opinions of others, […]
On the nature of evil
To my mind, more than anything else, the Gospels and the Parables in particular, are about teaching us as disciples to have empathy for others. Turns out that is also how we defeat evil.
Sneaky snow storm today
Sneaky snow storm today: This early snow today is already a surprise – at least according to the regular forecast models. But the AI based models have been sniffing out a bigger event all week though. We’re in the “now-cast” at this point. This one could surprise us here in Southern New England. Bummer if we get a snow-day on a holiday though.