Driving the news: AT&T is poised to send thousands into the new year hunting for new jobs after assigning them to train their own foreign replacements, according to conversations with current and former workers and documents obtained by Axios.
- Many have worked for the company for over a decade. They aren’t being offered severance or early retirement, and may not easily find a comparable job elsewhere with similar pay.
What they’re saying: Sara Blackwell, a Florida-based lawyer who represents Americans displaced by workers on visas or overseas, told Axios: “American workers are tired of waiting for President Trump to do something on this issue.”
Tuesday, December 31st, 2019
Robyn J. Whitaker, Senior Lecturer in New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity - Raw Story
Stephan: Most of what is supposed to be early Christian history, as recorded, is a rehash to earlier religions. But the one stand-out is the sexual dysfunction of conservative Christianity, indeed it is the common hallmark of all the Abrahamic religions -- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
In its original context, the claim that Jesus was born to a virgin mother places his birth in a long line of miraculous biblical births. The Bible tells of numerous old women, barren women and young unmarried women (“virgins” in ancient terms) who surprisingly bore children. Their offspring were seen as a sign of God’s blessing of new life, often in the midst of suffering or hardship.
The idea of original sin and its connection to sexual intercourse was popularised by African theologian Augustine. Not without controversy at the time, Augustine argued that humans were not born innocent, but rather sinful. His rationale was that sexual intercourse involves lust or sexual desire (a negative for him).
While Augustine tied this “original sin” back to Adam and Eve, the parallel focus on Mary’s perpetual virginity is relevant. If sexual intercourse produces sinful offspring, it was essential Mary be and remain a virgin so Jesus could, uniquely, be born sinless.
Such logic might seem absurd to many modern readers, but Augustine’s influence on Christian tradition cannot be overstated. In her book,
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019
, - Axios/Associated Press
Stephan: Between the extensive financial corruption and the seemingly endless stories of child sexual abuse, I'm not sure what the Roman Catholic Church actually stands for. I don't mean what they say, like criminal Trump that's a charade. I mean what they do. I understand the feeling of community amongst the members of local parishes, but how does that reconcile with the reality of the church as an organization.
Pope Francis holds a ‘Protection of Minors in the Church’ meeting in February 2019 in Vatican City.
Credit: Franco Origlia/Getty
Over 900 clergy accused of sexually abusing children are not included in dioceses’ public lists of those credibly accused, AP reports.
The big picture: Sexual abuse and misconduct within the Catholic Church is a global problem that has persisted for decades. Pope Francis recently unveiled rules to make the Church accountable for reporting allegations of abuse.
- Last week, Francis rid the church of the privacy it was previously given in internal proceedings that dealt with sexual abuse by banning “pontifical secrecy” — which often protected perpetrators.
What they’re saying: Church officials told AP that without an admission of guilt, “they have to weigh releasing a name against harming the reputation of priests who may have been falsely accused.”
- Naming priests can also open church officials to lawsuits from accused priests who maintain their innocence, AP reports.
Flashback: Francis concluded a Vatican summit on sexual abuse in February by calling […]
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Monday, December 30th, 2019
Bobby Azarian, Neuroscientist - Raw Story
Stephan:
Further confirmation of what I have been saying for the past three years. Always remember between 21% and 27% (depends on the study) of Americans have overactive right amygdalas, which correlates with ultra-conservative politics and religiosity. Also that the average IQ in the U.S. is 98, and that 34% are between 98 and 85, with 14% between 85 and 70 (retarded).When you combine those two factors you get Trumpers, filled with fear but unable to think rationally.
Children at Jesus camp
President Donald Trump lies so often that it is no longer shocking when it happens, no matter how blatant or absurd the falsehood may be. Not only does Trump regularly exaggerate the truth, he frequently denies facts that can be observed directly from video or audio tapes. This has led some professionals to diagnose his lying as compulsive or pathological, and many psychologists have pointed out that he is constantly gaslighting his base—a term that refers to a strategic attempt to get others to question their direct experience of reality.
With so much evidence to contradict his claims, like having the largest inauguration crowd size despite pictures clearly showing otherwise, one must wonder how there are still people out there who believe anything the man says. But the fact of the matter is there are many who swallow it hook, line, and sinker. Most of his fervent supporters are convinced that Trump […]
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