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☆ The Met Gala theme is ‘The Garden of Time:’ Why culture is obsessed with JG Ballard
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In February, the Met revealed Ballard’s 1962 short story “The Garden of Time” as the forthcoming red carpet theme. Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho/Getty ImagesThere is little glitz and glamor in Ballard’s world — or if there is, it doesn’t last for long. David Cronenberg's adaptation of JG Ballard's "Crash" debuted at Cannes Film Festival in 1996. In 2021, American designer Thom Browne’s Spring-Summer catwalk at New York Fashion Week also imagined life behind Count Axel’s garden wall. And now with the Met Gala theme, the beautiful flower that dies as soon as it’s plucked, it connects back to fashion being ephemeral.

Persons: Manus, Andrew Bolton, JG Ballard, Count Axel, Axel, Count, Countess, Thom Browne, Victor Virgile, —, you’ve, Steven Spielberg’s, David Cronenberg’s, ”, it’s, Ballard, David Cronenberg's, Ronald Siemoneit, Thom Browne’s, Browne, Alon Livné, Andrew Groves, Estrella de Mar, ” Groves, McQueen, Jeremy Scott, Marie, Christiane Marek, Jeremy Scott's, Jeremy Scott “, ” Scott, Scott, “, Nigel Coates, Caffè, Coates, Caffè Bongo, brandished Coates, Caffe, Edward Valentine, Charli XCX, Madonna’s, Ian Curtis, Stanley Donwood, Groves Organizations: CNN, York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, West, Technology, Costume Institute, Bolton, New York, Sun, Cannes Film, Estrella de, Paris Fashion, Division, Preachers, Fourth Estate Locations: China, British, France, American, Israeli, London, Estrella, Tokyo, “

☆ How evangelical leader Jim Wallis uses the Bible to expose the ‘False White Gospel’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Some may already be tired of the debate over White Christian nationalism, whose followers blend sexism, racism and hostility to non-White immigrants in a quest to create a White Christian America. But Wallis has been warning people about the dangers of White Christian nationalist beliefs long before the term became popular. You write that White Christian nationalism is not new, and that it’s a form of heresy. This [White Christian nationalism] is an old idea from the Doctrine of Discovery, which says that this country was for people who were White Americans. Tom Brenner/ReutersWhat’s the difference between patriotism — believing that the US is an exceptional country — and White Christian nationalism?

Persons: Jim Wallis, Marx, Wallis, ” Wallis, “, Obama, White, ” Wallis ’, Jesus, You’ve, Donald Trump, Tom Brenner, Pete Seeger’s, It’s, Trump, that’s, it’s, don’t, they’re, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Adolf Hitler, Michael Gonzalez, haven’t, Let’s, I’ve, Martin Luther, King didn’t, he’s, King, Michael Nigro, Mark Twain, Hitler, —, didn’t, you’ll, John Blake, ” Organizations: CNN, ”, White, Christian America, New York Times, Macmillan “, MAGA, Faith, Justice, Georgetown University, Commission, White Americans, Reuters, Pastors, Candler, Emory University’s Candler, of Theology, Cornerstone, Justice Department Locations: Vietnam, Detroit, America, Washington, Circleville , Ohio, Atlanta , Georgia, German, Germany, Quemado , Texas, Southern, That’s, Pittsburgh, Blacks, White, Hungary, Turkey, Black

☆ Opinion | We Regulate a Tiny Fraction of the 12,000 ‘Forever Chemicals.’ There’s a Better Way.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Kathleen Blackburn | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Nothing about his predicament made sense to our family at the time. He was 38, a nonsmoker and nondrinker, with no history of cancer in his family. My parents were conservative evangelicals deeply skeptical of the medical industry, and his diagnosis kicked their beliefs into high gear. Traveling evangelists and local preachers claimed that the cancer was, in fact, a satanic attack. This gave us a way out: We simply had to muster enough faith to believe a miracle was possible and God would heal him.

Persons: who’d Organizations: Air Force, New York City Marathon Locations: West Texas

Palestinians told CNN the war has crushed hopes of observing a peaceful month of fasting, festivities and worship this year. “Many of our friends and loved ones were buried alive under the rubble,” Mohammed Hamouda, a displaced health worker in Rafah, told CNN. “There are many people who (already) fast like it’s Ramadan,” he told CNN in late February, as the celebrations approached. Palestinians told CNN they resort to eating water-based soup mixed with herbs, custard or finger-sized biscuits because they have no access to nutrient-rich foods. I don’t remember.”Muslims in Gaza told CNN they are determined to perform daily rituals to try and find moments of relief among colossal devastation.

Persons: it’s, ” Aseel, Israel, ” Mohammed Hamouda, ” Rasmi Abu, ”, Mohammed Talatene, Ahmad Hijazi, Al Barakat, reigniting, Hamouda, Belal Khaled, Jihad Abu Watfa, Ali Jadallah, Al Shati, Khader, AbdulQader, ” Ahmed Zaida, hafiz, Said Khatib, Akbar ’ Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Ministry of Health, AFP, Getty, “, Israel Defense Forces, UN, Wafa, Endowments, Religious Affairs, Residents Locations: Deir al, Gaza, Rafah, Gaza City, Territories, Farouq, Junaina, Israeli, Hamad, Israel, Hamouda, Beit Lahia, ”, Anadolu, Sheikh Radwan, “, AFP

President Joe Biden's State of the Union address as prepared for delivery:Good evening. A former American president actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader. And it’s because of you that tonight we can proudly say the State of our Union is strong and getting stronger. Americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere else. I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel and the only American president to visit Israel in wartime.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Franklin Roosevelt, “, Hitler, Roosevelt’s, Lincoln, Putin, Ronald Reagan, thundered, Mr, Gorbachev, we’ve, Insurrectionists, ., Jan, I’ve, Latorya Beasley, Roe, Wade, Harris, Kate Cox, Kate, – that's, won’t, Hope, Shawn Fain, Dawn Simms, Dawn, That’s, Jill, I’m, Keenan Jones –, Sen, Bob Casey’s, It’s, It’d, Edmund Pettus, John Lewis, Betty May Fikes, ”, Banning, Jasmine, Jackie, we’re, Evan, Paul, Israel, –, We’ve, aren’t, They’ve, We’re, King, Bobby Kennedy, you’ve, Let’s Organizations: Madame, Union, Overseas, Republican, NATO, Alliance, National Security, America, That's, Act, Infrastructure Law, UAW, Big Pharma, Medicare, Affordable, White, Initiative, Women’s Health Research, Grants, Child, Big Oil, Social Security, Border Patrol Union, Dreamers, Peace Corps, Ameri Corps, Corps, American, House, NRA, Hamas, United, U.S, ARPA, Star Locations: Joe Biden's State, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, American, Russian, America, Finland, Sweden, United States, Birmingham , Alabama, Alabama, Dallas, Texas, COVID, That's America, Belvidere , Illinois, Belvidere, it’s, Shawn, HBCUs, Minnesota, Ireland, Selma , Alabama, Selma, Uvalde , Texas, Uvalde, Iowa, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Red, China, Taiwan Strait, I’ve, Scranton , Pennsylvania, Claymont , Delaware, United States of America

☆ Austin gave low-income residents $1,000 a month with no strings attached. One participant said the payments helped her get her first permanent apartment.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The program provides $1,000 monthly to low-income families, who spent much of their payments on housing. She applied for the Austin Guaranteed Income Pilot, which gave 135 low-income families $1,000 monthly with funding from the City of Austin and philanthropic donations. An analysis by the Urban Institute think tank found that participants predominantly spent their $1,000 payments on housing and food. Still, the Austin pilot — and dozens of others nationwide — have not been entirely successful for every participant. I'm working, and when I got down here, I landed a job within a month," Hendon said.

Persons: Stephanie Hendon, —, Austin, Jessica Nairns, Ivanna Neri, Hendon, bachelor's, Stephanie Hendon Stephanie Hendon, We're, didn't, I'm Organizations: Austin, Service, Urban Institute, Hendon Locations: Austin, City of Austin, Texas, Austin's, UpTogether, Detroit, Hendon, Michigan

☆ Pope Francis says Africa’s criticism of same-sex blessing a “special case”
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Pope Francis has addressed criticism over his consent to priests to bless same-sex couples, saying the pushback from African bishops was “a special case” influenced by culture. African Catholic bishops said in a letter the pope’s endorsement “caused a shockwave” on the continent and “has sown misconceptions and unrest in the minds of many”, including pastors. Kazakhstani bishops Tomash Peta and Athanasius Schneider jointly described blessings for same-sex unions as a contradiction to the age-long practice and doctrine of the Catholic Church. “To bless couples in an irregular situation and same-sex couples is a serious abuse of the most Holy name of God,” said the preachers who head the Archdiocese of Saint Mary in the country’s capital Astana. French Archbishop Hervé Giraud said last month he could bless a gay couple as he believed such a blessing was not an acceptance of a same-sex union.

Persons: Pope Francis, “, Francis, ”, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Tomash Peta, Athanasius Schneider, of Saint Mary, Hervé Giraud, ” Giraud Organizations: CNN, Italian, Stampa, Catholic Church, of, “, Catholic, La Croix Locations: Africa, Madagascar, Uganda, Asia, of Saint, Astana, Europe, France, Austria, Germany, Sens

☆ Opinion | Trumpism Is Devouring the Evangelical Movement
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Michelle Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Such qualms grew more vocal after voter revulsion toward MAGA candidates cost Republicans their prophesied red wave in 2022. He had too much of an edge sometimes.” Perkins was clearly rooting for Ron DeSantis, who represented the shining hope of a post-Trump religious right. But there’s not going to be a post-Trump religious right — at least, not anytime soon. Evangelical leaders who started their alliance with Trump on a transactional basis, then grew giddy with their proximity to power, have now seen MAGA devour their movement whole. But this year, according to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average, Trump leads his nearest Republican rivals by more than 30 points.

Persons: Tim Alberta’s, Donald Trump, Robert Jeffress, First Baptist Dallas —, ”, Trump boosterism —, “, —, MAGA, Mike Evans, ” Tony Perkins, Trump, Perkins, ” Perkins, Ron DeSantis, there’s, George W, Bush, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, Ted Cruz Organizations: Christian, First Baptist, Texas, The Washington Post, Trump, Family Research, Evangelical, Republican Locations: American, The, Alberta, Iowa

DETROIT (AP) — Influential longtime Detroit pastor the Rev. Adams spent a half-century as pastor of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church before retiring in 2019. “As a pastor of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, Rev. From 1962-1969, he was pastor of Concord Baptist Church in Boston, before being appointed pastor at Hartford Memorial. Adams is survived by his wife, Agnes Adams; daughter, Tara Adams Washington; and son, the Rev.

Persons: —, Charles Gilchrist Adams, Adams, Edith Clifton, “, ” Adams, Mike Duggan, ” Clifton, Martin Luther King Jr, King, Nickerson, “ Charles Adams, ” William A . Graham, Agnes Adams, Tara Adams Washington, Charles Christian Adams Organizations: DETROIT, Detroit News, Memorial Baptist Church, Hartford Village, Fisk University in, University of Michigan, Harvard University, Concord Baptist Church, Hartford Memorial, Harvard, Historical, Historical Concord Baptist, Detroit Free Press, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Free Press, Ministry, Harvard Divinity School, Seventh General Assembly, World, of, Hartford Memorial's, Ebony Magazine, Detroit Branch Locations: Detroit, Clifton, Hartford, Fisk University in Tennessee, Concord, Boston, Historical Concord, Atlanta, Ebenezer, United States

☆ A quick explainer on Silicon Valley's newest, controversial philosophy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It's an old Silicon Valley philosophy packaged anew: Growth without guardrails. Silicon Valley enters the age of e/accAndreessen and other prominent Silicon Valley figures such as Y Combinator president Garry Tan have quietly added the term e/acc to their social media profiles. In his manifesto, Andreessen calls it "techno-optimism." To some extent, it's a repackaging of what Silicon Valley has always peddled — let us build, grow, and make money without limitations. "Techno-optimists believe growth is progress," Andreessen argues, adding that growth is driven by the progress of technology without hindrance.

Persons: Marc Andreessen, —, Andreessen, Andreessen Horowitz, Andy Warhol, Milton Friedman, Prometheus, Y, Garry Tan, pesky ethicists, Carl, Benedikt Frey, Frey Organizations: Service, Silicon, acc Andreessen, acc, Netscape, Oxford Internet Institute Locations: Silicon Valley, digressions, OpenAI

☆ Opinion: How the words of ‘I Have a Dream’ soared and challenged the nation 60 years ago
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“It really shocked me,” Jones recalled. “Mahalia Jackson was his favorite gospel singer,” Jones recalled. “He took the written text … and shoved it to the side of the podium,” Jones recalled. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”As the thunderous applause passed, “Martin looked at me and said, ‘How do you think I did?’ ” Jones recalled. King and Rabbi Abraham Heschel standing in the middle room, they’re both sobbing,” Jones recalled.

Persons: John Avlon, “, Martin Luther King Jr, Franklin D, Roosevelt, Kennedy, Reagan, Clarence B, Jones, King, ”, ” Jones, King “, …, Martin, Lincoln – “, Mahalia Jackson, “ Mahalia Jackson, Dora McDonald, Mahalia, Martin Luther King, Jr, Liz Hafalia, Jackson, hadn’t, he’d, ” King, Georgia ”, “ Martin, Rabbi Joachim Prinz, Abraham Joshua Heschel, “ Dr, Rabbi Abraham Heschel, Clarence, ” Clarence Jones Organizations: CNN, Lions, Washington, Kennedy White House, Willard, Lincoln, Lincoln –, University of San, San Francisco Chronicle, Martin Luther King Jr . Research, Education Institute, Stanford University, Civil Rights Movement, Twitter, Facebook Locations: “ Lincoln, Lincoln, Washington, Independence, University of San Francisco, Detroit, New Hampshire, Georgia, Hitler’s Germany, America, Catskill

Malindi, Kenya CNN —The reddish soil of the Shakahola forest is still giving up its terrible secrets. The cult was preparing for the end of the world under the instruction of their its powerful pastor, say investigators. Many find it difficult to comprehend the dark path that Pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie allegedly took his followers along. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty ImagesAt a recent hearing Mackenzie denied all knowledge of the horrors that witnesses, inspectors, and survivors believe happened in the Shakahola forest. ‘Intoxicating power’To understand the Shakahola cult, the focus must be on Mackenzie, says Rick Ross, a leading American cult expert who has studied destructive cults for decades.

Persons: Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, Paul Mackenzie, David McKenzie, ’ ”, Agnes, Mackenzie, “, ”, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Rick Ross, “ It’s, Ross, Charles Manson, David Koresh, Joseph Kibwetere, Geoffrey Wango, Wango, Ruto, Nxivm, God, Naomi Kahindi's, Mwangi, Francis Wanje, Wanje’s, It’s, Wanje, Khalid Hussein, Mackenzie's, Monicah Mwangi, Jesus, couldn’t, didn’t, David Man’ong’o Organizations: Kenya CNN, CNN, Good News International Ministry, Criminal Investigations, Getty, Nairobi University, Kenyan, Reuters, . Police, Public Prosecutions Locations: Malindi, Kenya, Galilee, Bethlehem, Shakahola, AFP, American, Africa

Pamela Mukalasinga, 54, a small-scale trader and mother of five, would tune in religiously to Mackenzie’s Times TV channel. “The rescued child narrated the sufferings his two siblings underwent after being starved for some time before their mother suffocated them to death,” prosecutors said. Many of those found in the forest are believed to be followers of Mackenzie. This is extremism and brainwashing of the highest order,” Walid Sketty of Kenya-based human rights group Haki Africa, which has been involved in rescue operations at Shakahola, told CNN. Shibutse recalls that his mother started to observe some of Mackenzie’s doctrines denouncing healthcare and modern education for children.

Persons: Rodgers Shibutse, Pamela, Paul Mackenzie, Pamela Mukalasinga, Shibutse, Rodgers, Mackenzie, “, Paul McKenzie, ”, Malindi, ” Mackenzie, George Kariuki, Pastor Mackenzie, ” Kariuki, Kariuki, Titus Katana, GNI, Katana, “ Mackenzie, Yasuyoshi Chiba, I’ve, ” Walid Sketty, Johansen Oduor, ” Oduor, Oduor, ” Shibutse, Robert, Mackenzie’s GNI, Gideon Mung’aro, Mackenzie wasn’t, Moses Odhiambo, Kithure Kindiki, Ezekiel Ombok Odero, ” Kindiki, Jared Magolo, “ It’s, Pastor Odero, hasn’t, Odero, Odhiambo Organizations: CNN, Mackenzie’s Times, Good News International, Kenyan Red Cross, Police, National Police, Kenyan, …, Nation . Police, Workers, Getty, Government, Digital, Times TV, Citizen Digital, Prosecutors, New, Centre Church, Kenya’s Communications Authority Locations: Kenya’s, Bungoma County, Malindi, Kenya, Shakahola, Mombasa, AFP, Africa, ”, bodybags, Kenyan, Haki Africa, “, Kilifi County, Odero

☆ Charles Stanley, Atlanta Pastor Who Preached to the World, Dies at 90
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Richard Sandomir | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Charles Stanley, an influential Baptist pastor who for more than 50 years preached a conservative message from his Atlanta megachurch, through an extensive network of television and radio stations, and in many books, died on Tuesday at his home in Atlanta. In Touch Ministries, Dr. Stanley’s nonprofit organization, announced his death but did not state a cause. As the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Dr. Stanley was known as one of the leading American preachers of his time, alongside figures like the Rev. He was also a board member of the Moral Majority, the right-wing religious organization, and a close friend of its founder, the Rev. “Evangelicals just loved him,” Barry Hankins, a professor of history at Baylor University who, with Thomas Kidd, wrote “Baptists in America” (2015), said in a phone interview.

☆ A rabbi used ChatGPT to write a sermon. He said his congregation's reaction made him 'deathly afraid' — but that it won't put him out of work just yet.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rabbi Joshua Franklin told ChatGPT to write him a 1,000-word sermon about intimacy and vulnerability. Franklin told his congregation he was "deathly afraid" when applause broke out after his sermon. Franklin told the AP that ChatGPT is "really great at sounding intelligent," but lacks empathy. "Now, you're clapping — I'm deathly afraid," Franklin told his congregation when they applauded after the sermon. Franklin told the Associated Press that the ChatGPT sermon was based on a portion of the Torah about intimacy and vulnerability.

Jerry Lee Lewis, the rock ’n’ roll trailblazer and piano virtuoso who electrified audiences with his raucous, free-wheeling performances but attracted scandal after he married his 13-year-old cousin, died Friday, his publicist said. Jerry Lee Lewis in 1957. He is a defiant, reckless, indefatigable wild man that can rock you into oblivion,” the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame said when he was inducted in 1986. Jerry Lee Lewis with Myra Gale Brown in 1962. Jerry Lee Lewis performs in 1986.

☆ Jerry Lee Lewis, rock ’n’ roll pioneer who sang ‘Great Balls of Fire,’ dies at 87
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Brandon Griggs | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And I’ve been on one all my life,” Lewis said in “Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story,” a 2014 biography by Rick Bragg. Jerry Lee Lewis performs on stage at the Country Music Festival held at Wembley Arena, London in April 1982. In 1989 “Great Balls of Fire!”, a biopic starring Dennis Quaid as Lewis, brought new attention to Lewis’ life and music. Jerry Lee Lewis speaks at the Country Music Hall of Fame 2022 inductees presented by CMA at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on May 17, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. Well, forget about it, let me hear that song.’”Lewis is survived by his wife, Judith Coghlan Lewis, his children Jerry Lee Lewis III, Ronnie Lewis, Pheobe Lewis and Lori Lancaster, sister Linda Gail Lewis, cousin Swaggart and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews, according to his representative’s statement.

☆ The YouTube prayer channel started during Covid that's become a global movement
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-21 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Eze's YouTube channel receives one of the highest Super Chat donations in the world, according to PlayboardAmong his ardent fans is award-winning Nigerian singer D'banj who tells CNN joining Eze's morning prayers has become a routine. Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh says she also connected with Eze's ministry early last year. He had started livestreaming hoping to inspire his congregation when the pandemic shut down all church services and attendance at his fledgling ministry, Streams of Joy International, dwindled. Eze's daily messages of encouragement later morphed into a daily online prayer network every weekday on YouTube and other video-sharing services. "People all over the world are accustomed to waking up and finding Pastor Jerry online," Eze says.

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