Federal judges have sided with the Bavarian government in its litigation against an atheist group. Authorities in Bavaria have the right to demand that Christian crosses be placed in all government buildings‚ the German Federal Administrative Court– one of the nation’s five federal supreme courts – ruled on Tuesday. The decision followed a row between regional officials and an association of atheists. Led by Markus Soeder – the head of the region’s most powerful political party‚ the Conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) – the Bavarian government introduced the rule in 2018. At that time‚ the authorities ordered Christian crosses to be placed over the entrances of all government buildings to reflect the state’s “cultural identity as well as Christian [and] Western influence.”  The southern German state had previously enacted similar rules for public schools and courtrooms‚ making crosses compulsory. Soeder also took a particularly tough stance on immigration and sought to streamline asylum procedures in the state. The 2018 decision was met with criticism by atheist associations and religious leaders alike. The Catholic Church accused Soeder of misusing Christian symbols to score cheap political points. An atheist association known as the ‘Union for Mental Freedom’ claimed that the decision violated its right to freedom of thought‚ and took the matter to court in 2021. The union had its first legal complaint dismissed by a lower court‚ prompting it to turn to the Federal Administrative Court. “What does a cross have to do with an official activity‚ with the issuing of a driving license? Nothing!” a lawyer for the organization argued during the trial.Alex Jones' latest bestselling book 'The Great Awakening' is NOW AVAILABLE! Secure your limited edition autographed today! Federal judges‚ however‚ considered the Bavarian authorities’ decision to be a “mere administrative provision with no legal external effect‚” which did not “violate any rights of the plaintiffs.” The court acknowledged that the cross is perceived as the central symbol of the Christian faith‚ but said its display does not infringe upon any guarantees of freedom.Soeder welcomed the decision by saying the cross is “a sign of our Christian and cultural nature‚” adding that it “belongs to Bavaria.” The leader of the CSU faction in the regional parliament‚ Klaus Holetschek‚ also praised the development by saying “’yes’ to our values and ‘yes’ to the Christian-Western nature of our country.” The Union for Mental Freedom has vowed to challenge the ruling at the German Constitutional Court. EXCLUSIVE: DHS Intelligence Officer Blows The Whistle On Massive Islamic Terror Invasion

Results provide a snapshot of the youth vote just weeks before the Iowa caucuses. Young Republican voters overwhelmingly want Donald Trump to be the GOP nominee in 2024‚ and they only disagree on whether he should choose Tucker Carlson or Vivek Ramaswamy as his running mate‚ according to a straw poll of participants who attended Turning Point Action’s annual AmericaFest. Obtained exclusively by RealClearPolitics‚ the results provide a snapshot of the youth vote just weeks before the Iowa caucuses. The online poll was conducted by Turning Point Action Dec. 17-18 and surveyed 1‚113 attendees at the TPUSA conference in Phoenix‚ Ariz. The results show Trump as the clear favorite with 82.6% of respondents choosing the former president as their first choice. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished second with 7.6%‚ while Vivek Ramaswamy followed closely in third with 5.8%. Nikki Haley‚ the former South Carolina governor who has garnered national media attention and a recent bump in momentum‚ finished fifth. Barely more than 1%‚ or 12 voters‚ at the Trump-friendly event said they preferred Haley compared to the 2.5% who remained “undecided.” The topline results are not surprising given that the founder of Turning Point USA‚ Charlie Kirk‚ remains an ardent ally of the former president and previously served as the CEO of Students for Trump. But the survey sheds light on a question currently dominating Trump world.Survival Shield X-2 is now 25% OFF! Treat your body with super high-quality nascent iodine &; enjoy one of nature's greatest essentials! When asked whom Trump should choose as his vice president if he wins the nomination‚ 35%‚ a plurality‚ settled on former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson. Another 25.7%‚ meanwhile‚ preferred Ramaswamy. Both men made headlines with their remarks at the conference. Ramaswamy responded from the main stage to criticism from CNN host Van Jones‚ who called him a demagogue earlier this month. “Just shut the f–k up‚” the businessman-turned-politician said to applause. For his part‚ Carlson downplayed the idea of entering politics himself. “It’s like the weather‚” the pundit replied when asked about joining the ticket with Trump. “I can’t control it‚” Carlson said after floating Ramaswamy instead for VP. “I don’t think I’d be that great at that.” On the eve of the primary‚ the results reflect the policy appetites of the right-leaning youth. Attendees ranked border security and “deporting Biden-era illegal immigrants” as their top priority ahead of “election integrity” and “defunding the deep state‚” which ranked second and third. Meanwhile‚ ending diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion initiatives from the government‚ which has been a calling card of the DeSantis campaign‚ ranked as their lowest priority. Mirroring a larger shift on the right‚ the survey also shows a youth vote increasingly skeptical of foreign aid to Ukraine but largely supportive of Israel’s war with Hamas. A clear majority‚ 55.4%‚ backed giving lethal aid to Tel Aviv‚ less than 1% supported sending the same to Kyiv‚ and 39.4% responded that the United States shouldn’t provide such supplies to either Israel or Ukraine. Congress generally earns poor approval ratings‚ but the young Republicans seemed to like newly minted House Speaker Mike Johnson‚ with 57% either somewhat or strongly approving of his job performance. They were somewhat split‚ meanwhile‚ on whether the House should have expelled former New York Rep. George Santos‚ who made numerous false representations about himself during the previous election. While 32% approved of the Santos expulsion‚ 47% disapproved of the history-making move which had only occurred five times previously. The same week that the House approved an impeachment inquiry of President Biden‚ 49.6% said that they supported removing him from office. Another 24.3% reported that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas should be impeached‚ while 15.2% wanted Attorney General Merrick Garland gone. As both parties court the youth vote‚ the survey found that young Republicans in the Turning Point orbit are unsatisfied with RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. An overwhelming 87% said that she should step down‚ and 56% reported that her departure would make them “more likely” to donate to the party. Charlie Kirk supported Harmeet Dhillon in her unsuccessful challenge of McDaniel earlier this year. EXCLUSIVE Vivek Ramaswamy Interview: The Deep State is Attempting to Establish a Permanent Dictatorship

by Stefan Stanford‚ All News Pipeline: “Time for Us to wake up. The choice could not be more clear. If you want a Fascist Dictatorship‚ choose Trump. If you want to preserve American Democracy‚ choose President Biden.” — Batsh!t crazy Hollywood pundit Rob Reiner on X “Joe Biden” is only the most obviously weak device in the […]

December 21‚ 2023

Their 1990 studio debut was full of prog promise - but one member’s reputed refusal to deal with his drug addiction limited their rise

The way communities are constructed in today’s bustling cities exacerbates the loneliness many people feel. Andy Field‚ a British artist‚ observed a park teeming with people but with little connection amongst them while visiting Baltimore’s Mount Vernon Place. Field’s insights from his book‚ Encounterism: The Neglected Joys of Being In Person‚ emphasize the significance of casual encounters‚ citing their profound impact on mental health. He goes on to say‚ “They invite us to take care of one another and understand our differences.” According to the US Surgeon General‚ the “loneliness epidemic” affects people of all ages and demographics. In metropolitan regions‚ 79 percent of young adults aged 18 to 24 report feelings of isolation. Meanwhile‚ an increasing proportion of the population‚ elderly folks‚ struggle with infrequent social interaction outside their homes. These developments‚ together with the increase in single-person households‚ all contribute greatly to the current sense of disconnection. Designing “social infrastructure” The built environment is critical in this socioeconomic dilemma. Postwar growth patterns‚ marked by car-centric neighborhoods and shrinking civic organizations‚ have resulted in fewer public areas and opportunities for face-to-face encounters. The pandemic’s aftermath worsened isolation‚ increasing distant transactions that avoid human interaction for convenience. Urban planning‚ on the other hand‚ can provide a remedy by enhancing “social infrastructure‚” which includes libraries‚ parks‚ and commercial districts. Efforts to improve these places should go beyond simply establishing them‚ with an emphasis on purposeful design decisions that encourage interaction. Creating inclusive environments Designing to combat loneliness necessitates nuanced approaches. Initiatives such as those in West Palm Beach‚ Florida‚ demonstrate the power of purposeful design interventions. Tactical adjustments‚ such as the addition of art installations‚ mobile furniture‚ and comfortable seating configurations‚ promote spontaneous connections. Houssam Elokda‚ managing principal at Happy Cities‚ emphasizes‚ “Small details like seating arrangements matter. Benches shouldn’t be placed directly across from each other…” These small changes are intended to alleviate the stress of direct engagement‚ allowing individuals to engage spontaneously. An emphasis on visual complexity in settings creates a welcome environment for socialization by establishing a balance of openness and privacy. Orchestrating everyday encounters Opportunities for meaningful relationships abound outside of parks and public areas. Initiatives such as the “Happy to Chat” benches in Salem‚ Massachusetts‚ are intended to alleviate isolation among senior persons by encouraging people to participate in casual conversation. Supermarkets in the Netherlands and France have implemented “slow” checkout lines‚ encouraging amicable interactions between customers and cashiers. However‚ the opportunity for interaction goes beyond approved areas. Multifamily buildings‚ which are sometimes disregarded as potential community involvement hubs‚ might be reinvented to enable unexpected encounters. However‚ legal constraints and zoning restrictions prevent these areas from being transformed into dynamic communal hubs‚ demanding a broader cultural shift in thinking and regulations. Experts emphasize the importance of changing public culture in order to encourage inclusivity and safety within communities. Setha Low‚ a cultural anthropologist at the City University of New York and the author of the 2022 book Why Public Space Matters‚ supports the implementation of inclusive public spaces that foster varied encounters‚ emphasizing the significance of conversation and community engagement in developing these environments. Redefining city living Grace Kim‚ founding principal of Seattle-based architecture firm Schemata Workshop‚ highlights the importance of a cultural shift in housing policies‚ questioning the traditional emphasis on autonomy. Co-housing communities serve as models for people to form strong social bonds. Initiatives addressing loneliness‚ on the other hand‚ must begin at the city’s comprehensive planning level‚ with a focus on collective well-being. While large-scale societal changes may appear intimidating‚ small-scale efforts can drive change. Andy Field proposes amusing additions such as tin-can telephones between park benches‚ intending to break down barriers to communicating with strangers. He emphasizes the importance of unintentional play in building true interactions among adults in public areas. These initiatives to rethink our communities highlight the transformative power of urban planning in combating the loneliness epidemic. Each minor change adds to a broader‚ more integrated societal tapestry‚ where interactions and personal relationships are fostered‚ resulting in a more lively and inclusive urban landscape.The post Combating urban loneliness: restructuring cities to encourage social interaction first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Malijah Gee’s path from incarceration at the age of 17 to imminent freedom reflects the longing for a voice that has been suppressed for 36 years. A historic opportunity awaits him and many others: the chance to vote‚ possibly for the first time. He said‚ “I came here as a youth‚ so I was never able to vote.” But now‚ on the verge of being released‚ he is looking forward to taking part in Michigan’s next presidential primary. “Getting out and having that opportunity is a great feeling‚” he said‚ emphasizing the enormous importance of this right. Legislative success Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently signed a critical bill into law‚ signaling a big step toward increased voter participation. This law‚ sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou‚ offers automatic registration to recently jailed individuals upon release. She said‚ “We wanted to increase [voter registration]‚ and the incarcerated population is one of the populations that is least likely to be registered to vote.” The goal is clear: to strengthen a historically marginalized part of society. Improving participation Michigan’s project is not a stand-alone effort; it builds on the Department of Corrections’ previous efforts. Even before the law was passed in 2025‚ the department and the secretary of state collaborated to pre-register approximately 5‚000 jailed people to vote upon their release. “The legislation does… ensure that it’ll continue long term‚” said Kyle Kaminski of the Department of Corrections‚ underscoring the commitment to maintaining this critical practice. Bridging information divides Khyla Craine‚ deputy legal director at the Secretary of State’s Office‚ clarified a frequent misconception: many detained people do not vote because they believe they cannot. “They don’t want to jeopardize their ability to remain outside of the criminal justice system once they have been released‚” she said. This statute‚ on the other hand‚ seeks to clear the air and serve as a catalyst for the reintegration of formerly jailed people into society. Education and advocacy Advocacy groups such as Voters Not Politicians have been instrumental in driving these improvements. Voters Not Politicians Director Kim Murphy-Kovalick emphasized the importance of an educational component. “We need the next part of it to be the education piece‚” she said‚ arguing for programs that enlighten inmates about their voting rights. For Gee‚ preparing to re-enter society entails more than just selecting a candidate; it also entails comprehending the significance of his vote. Recognizing the significance of this newfound right‚ he decides to devote time to research before making his decision. Michigan’s progress toward inclusivity in the political process is a ray of optimism. It demonstrates the power of law and lobbying‚ promising a brighter future in which every voice matters‚ regardless of prior circumstances.The post Expanding democracy: Michigan opens new doors for formerly incarcerated voters first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

I am pleased to announce that my book “YUGA SHIFT: The End of the Kali Yuga &; the impending Planetary Transformation” has been released on December 15‚ 2023. The paperback and kindle versions of the book are now available on Amazon. (click here)

Advent is a time when Christians gather. However‚ Advent can also remind us how we’ve been called to scatter. In the Great Commission‚ Jesus sends his followers to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). We sometimes neglect to see that this mission is foreshadowed in Jesus’s birth narrative (Matt. 1–2). Mission didn’t begin at the end of Christ’s earthly work; instead‚ Jesus’s birth foreshadows that a mission to the nations was the purpose of his coming. All Nations The nations are present at Jesus’s birth. In Matthew 2‚ we read of an unlikely group coming to worship Jesus as King. It’s not Jerusalem that’s ready to receive her king (v. 3). Rather‚ magi come to worship Jesus. Matthew specifically states these wise men come from the “east” (v. 1). This could refer to several places‚ and some surmise they’re from Babylon. But in their coming‚ the magi prefigure all nations bowing the knee before the Son. Yet the question arises: How will he draw them? The Great Commission tells us how—it’s by Jesus’s kingly authority. In their coming‚ the magi prefigure all nations bowing the knee before the Son. Jesus says‚ “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” therefore go into all nations (28:18). This claim to authority hails from Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man who ascends to the heavens and is given “dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples‚ nations‚ and languages should serve him” (Dan. 7:14). Since Jesus is exalted to the highest throne‚ we have a mission to all peoples. The Star and the Allotment of Nations The supernatural background is hinted at with the reference to a mobile star that led the magi to Jesus (Matt. 2:2‚ 7‚ 9‚ 10; Num. 24:17). Interpreters debate the nature of this star. One option is that the star is an angel. Ancient people viewed stars as supernatural beings—the heavenly host (Gen. 2:1; Neh. 9:6; Judg. 5:20; Job 38:7). Angels are said to descend (Gen. 28:12; Luke 10:18; Rev. 18:1) and to guide people (Ex. 14:19; 23:20)‚ and they’re often associated with brightness (Acts 10:30; 12:7; 2 Cor. 11:14; Matt. 28:1–2). Additionally‚ a biblical theology of spiritual authorities reveals this text could be a reversal of the nations’ allotment under angelic powers (Deut. 32:8–9; Ps. 82). Now that the Son of Man is born‚ an obedient angel leads the nations to their true King. If the star in Matthew 2 is an angel who leads the nations to worship Jesus‚ it foreshadows the church’s mission. Only through Jesus will the nations stream to Yahweh because their wicked guardians have been defeated in him (Col. 1:13; Eph. 1:20–21). As the disciples go out on their mission in Acts‚ they encounter much spiritual warfare; the fallen guardians of the nations will not give up their prey without a fight. Spirit’s Power Because there’ll be a supernatural battle‚ the disciples will need supernatural power. Therefore Jesus commands his disciples to baptize the nations in the “name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Then he promises them his presence (Matt. 28:19–20). While many have noted the link between Immanuel (God with us) at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel and Christ’s presence at the end (1:23; 28:20)‚ fewer have connected this to the presence of the Spirit and the war of the cosmos. If the star in Matthew 2 is an angel who leads the nations to worship Jesus‚ it foreshadows the church’s mission. Though Matthew isn’t prolific in his references to the Spirit‚ he does explicitly note the Spirit’s presence in the events surrounding Jesus’s birth  (1:18‚ 20) and in the Great Commission (28:19). What we learn if we connect these texts—and tie them to the analysis above—is that through the Spirit’s presence‚ the nations will be freed from their spiritual bondage. In Jesus’s earthly ministry‚ he repeatedly casts out demons by the power of the Spirit (4:24; 8:16‚ 28‚ 31; 9:33; 12:24; 17:18; 15:22). As he explains in the Beelzebul controversy‚ if Jesus drives out demons (fallen angels) by the Spirit of God‚ then the kingdom of God has come (12:28). Appropriately‚ Matthew connects demon possession with Gentiles in a couple of places (8:29; 15:22). In one episode‚ a Canaanite woman (a Gentile) comes to Jesus because her daughter is severely tormented by a demon (15:22). It confuses us when Jesus says it’s not her time yet. But we must remember that Jesus hasn’t yet died and been enthroned. Nevertheless‚ he heals this Gentile’s daughter because the time was both now and not yet. Advent and Mission The advent of Jesus is likewise now and not yet. The nations are present at Jesus’s birth‚ having been led by a shining star showing they’ll be freed from the domain of darkness. They’ll be released by being baptized into the name of the Father‚ Son‚ and Spirit. Perhaps this is partly why in early baptismal traditions‚ converts would declare‚ “I renounce thee‚ Satan‚ and all thy servants and all thy works.” Advent is a time when we’re reminded of our mission to go to the nations. Jesus is first worshiped by pagans who follow a star. Today‚ the nations are brought to faith in Jesus through his messengers who proclaim his name in the power of the Spirit. As we go into all the world‚ we do so in hope of Jesus’s promise recorded by Matthew (8:11). Like the magi‚ many will come from east and west‚ joining Abraham and his greater Son in his heavenly kingdom.

For some‚ the highlight of the Advent celebration is candles and wreaths. For others‚ it’s cookies and fellowship. But my favorite Advent tradition is reading On the Incarnation by Athanasius of Alexandria. Many readers have stumbled across this masterpiece because of the introductory essay in some editions‚ written by C. S. Lewis and republished as “On the Reading of Old Books.” Lewis makes his famous appeal to read books like Athanasius’s classic text. On the Incarnation is a careful exposition of God’s power and love to save fallen humanity—and many of us‚ like Lewis‚ are more encouraged by this short theological work than by explicitly devotional material. It deserves to be read on its own merits. On the Incarnation is a beautiful exposition of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It explains why and how he came to save us. The incarnation is the beating heart of orthodoxy‚ the story at the center of our faith. Athanasius fleshes this story out through scriptural engagement and philosophical meditation‚ keeping the miracle of Christ’s enfleshment front and center. Christ’s Humanity Athanasius wrote On the Incarnation around AD 330 during his early years as a bishop. He begins with God’s nature. God isn’t a being among other beings. He is being itself‚ on whom all reality and existence rests and depends. Humans were made by God to know‚ love‚ and worship him. We‚ along with all creation‚ exist only by God’s grace. But God has given us a special grace: we can enter into his being that sustains our lives and our souls and our existence. Through the fall‚ we misused our freedom and turned away from God and his grace. Since God is existence and essence and being itself—or‚ rather‚ himself—we thus turned to nonexistence‚ nothingness‚ and death. God has given us a special grace: we can enter into his being that sustains our lives and our souls and our existence. Yet God loved humanity too much to let us continue on this path to death and nothingness without hope. God’s love for fallen humans is at the center of the gospel. And that love is evident in the incarnation‚ which Athanasius argues was intended to undo the corruption of sin: “For seeing the rational race perishing‚ and death reigning over them through corruption‚ and seeing also the threat of the transgression giving firm hold to the corruption which was upon us . . . he takes for himself a body and that not foreign to our own” (II.8). Our king came to drive away the bandit of death. Imagine‚ argues Athanasius‚ that a city has been captured by bandits. Would not any king go and liberate that city‚ driving the bandits away? And so long as the king is present in a city‚ will not bandits avoid it? So it is with us. God came himself because no mere human was able to liberate us. But he came as a human because only a human could fulfill the law of humanity. As Athanasius writes‚ “Being the Word of the Father and above all‚ he alone consequently was both able to recreate the universe and was worthy to suffer on behalf of all and to intercede for all before the Father” (II.7). It was thus necessary that Christ was fully human and fully divine. Christ’s Divinity Athanasius provides several arguments for the full divinity of Jesus‚ the strongest of these being the crucifixion. Christ tramples down death by death—one of Athanasius’s favorite images. He ransoms us by his death‚ for he himself didn’t need to die. This is the great evil of nothingness that must first be overcome. And when death is overcome‚ the renewal of humanity can begin: The Word of God came himself‚ in order that he being the image of the Father (cf. Col. 1:15)‚ the human being “in the image” might be recreated. It could not‚ again‚ have been done in any other way‚ without death and corruption being utterly destroyed. So he rightly took a mortal body‚ that in it death might henceforth be destroyed utterly and human beings be renewed again according to the image. For this purpose‚ then‚ there was need of none other than the Image of the Father. (III.13) On the Incarnation uses the Godward spirituality of the church as evidence of Christ’s divinity. Since the church is the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12–27)‚ the moral transformation of believers provides evidence that Christ is God. Athanasius notes‚ Those who become disciples of Christ‚ instead of fighting against each other‚ stand arrayed against the demons by their lives and deeds of virtue‚ putting them to flight and mocking their prince‚ the devil‚ so that‚ in their youth they are temperate‚ in temptations they endure‚ in toils they persevere‚ when insulted they forbear‚ and deprivations they disregard‚ and‚ what is most wonderful is that they scorn even death and become martyrs for Christ. (VIII.52) Christ’s divinity is also evidenced by his resurrection‚ because only a living Savior can move sinners toward holiness. Athanasius argues‚ “The dead can effect nothing‚ but the Saviour effects such great things every day—drawing to piety‚ persuading to virtue‚ teaching about immortality‚ leading to a desire for heavenly things‚ revealing the knowledge of the Father‚ inspiring power against death‚ showing himself to each‚ and purging away the godlessness of idols” (V.31). Only a living Savior can move sinners toward holiness. Only God could save us‚ and when he did‚ he opened a pathway to heaven and true life that’s more glorious and more beautiful than anything we can imagine. This is the great truth at the heart of Christmas and the beautiful‚ orthodox gospel Athanasius fought to maintain and that he explains so carefully in On the Incarnation. This Christmas season‚ ponder this classic work and bask in the glory of Christ who died and rose to save you.