Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh here on Friday stressed the need for unity of thought and action, saying it was required now more than ever.

"More than any other period of human history, the need for unity of thought and action today is the most urgent," said the former PM speaking on the concluding day of an international conference on Guru Nanak Dev by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) here.

"When the world is breaking up into fragments, and fragments clash with fragments, surrendering all sense and purpose of living for the larger humanity, it is the humanity which seeks transcendence from narrow limits and boundaries," Singh stressed.

Saying that today's world was beset with violence and rejection, the former PM said the humanity needed to provide succour to the people "ejected from their land and hearth".

"We are hearing the cry of the refugees and their children in the middle east, we hear the cry of the deprived and we hear the cry of those who are abandoned by the unjust social and economic order," he said.

The former prime minister also called for an alternative model of society based on truth, gender equality, protection of the environment and universal responsibility due to serious challenges posed by unchecked exploitation of natural resources, growing race for arms, continued exploitation of the poor by the rich and growing environmental degradation.

"For a lasting peace in the turbulent world that we live in, let me conclude by offering a prayer from the Guru Granth Sahib: This world is burning O' Lord, show thy mercy, thy grace and save it through whatever door thou can," said Singh.

Earlier, speaking on the Sikhism founder he said, "Guru Nanak Dev ji's hymns contained in the Guru Granth Sahib show that India at that time was passing through a period of civilisational conflict."

"Fortunately, the wise and women from different faiths joined together for the cause of peace and love, which resulted in the formation of the Bhakti and Sufi movements," he added.

Singh said both movements emphasised transcending narrow boundaries created in the name of caste, colour, creed and preached love, peace and devotion to God.

He said Guru Nanak demonstrated his concern for the poor and needy at an early age when he was given Rs 20 by his father for a profitable business.

Instead, he purchased food for hungry sadhus and began the institution of langar (free community kitchen), where food was served to all without any distinction of high and low, he said.

Speaking on the stay of the Guru at Sultanpur Lodhi, where he got enlightenment on the banks of the Kali Bein, Manmohan Singh said, "It is important to note that the first words the Guru uttered after his enlightenment were 'na koi Hindu, na Koi Musalman', clearly indicating that his mission was to unite humanity."

The former PM said the Guru's teachings could be summed up in three Punjabi words--naam japna, kirat karna and wand chhakna (meditation, hard and honest labour, and sharing fruits of one's earnings with others).

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Need unity of thought, action: Manmohan Singh - Moneycontrol.com

Published Nov 8, 2019 at 8:00 am(Updated Nov 8, 2019 at 12:26 am)

Dockyard sunset (Photograph by Janos Lengyel)

Letters to the Editor

Dear Sir,

We are facing some challenging times. Will we get through them? Are we up for the challenge? We can be, for we live in a universe of infinite possibilities.

Everywhere we look there is upheaval, unrest as citizens and governments are at odds. We are inundated with leaders wielding worldly power and trying to implement questionable strategies that impact on their citizens in ways that their peace and wellbeing are being threatened.

It is time for us all to take and spend time in the hallowed chambers, alone, in the silence, seeking the path of enlightenment, asking for guidance, wisdom and understanding.

As we each take this inside journey in honesty, we will eventually realise we are all children of the universe and so entitled to its blessings, and as we hold in consciousness, so shall we create in reality.

It is time for us to awaken, be enlightened and fill the world with our love and not our fears. The choice is yours. Be blessed.

A. CONSTANCE McHARDY

Smiths

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It's time to awaken and fill the world with love - Royal Gazette

Riley Brown, Contributing Writer

WONY Radio is proud to announce that Abby Perrin, Baylee Bruno, and Lindsey Geoghegan are this weeks DJs of the week! Their show, This Is Gonna Hurt is a weekly talk and music show hosted by the trio. Each week, the hosts play their Song of the Week and then discuss their Pick of the Week, which could be anythingfrom a brand of marinara sauce to a recent concert they went to. The show ends with Rose, Thorn, and Bud, a review of the hosts good and bad moments of the past week and then something they are looking forward to. In between segments, they enjoy discussingcurrent pop culture events, nostalgia, and favorite movies.

Abby is a junior music industry major and computer art minor. Formerly the host of Full Circle, Its Spherical, and Block Party Whisper, she has been a WONY DJ since Spring 2018 and became the Communications Director in fall 2019.This year, she serves as the stations Operations Manager. Outside of WONY, Abby serves as the Music Industry Clubs Vice President. She loves to be involved in local live music and in her free time travels all around to see her favorite bands.

Baylee is a junior music industry major and event planning minor. She has been a WONY DJ and events department member since Spring 2019, and is the former host of The Buzz. Outside of WONY, Baylee serves as the Music Industry ClubsSecretary. She loves to travel and will be studying abroad in Japan during the spring 2020 semester.

Lindsey is a sophomore music industry major. She has been a WONY DJ and events department member since Fall 2018 and is the former host of Enlightenment. Outside of WONY, Lindsey serves as Hooked On Tonics Vice President. She lovesmany types of music and watching comedy shows.

Tune into This Is Gonna Hurt every Tuesday night from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. to hear Abby, Baylee, and Lindsey play some music and give you a laugh.

Interested in joining WONY? Contact our TrainingDirector at[emailprotected]and dont forgetto Keep It Locked!

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WONY's DJ of the Week - The State Times

The Columbia Maison Franaise hosted dozens of audience members for a debate on navigating the limitations of tolerance and intolerance in an increasingly divided social landscape on Thursday evening.

Should We Tolerate the Intolerant? was a debate between Denis Lacorne and Bernard Harcourt, moderated by Sheri Berman, centered around todays increasingly divided political landscape and ambiguous definitions of tolerance and intolerance. It was co-sponsored by the Alliance Program; Columbia University Press; the European Institute; the Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought; and the Institute for Religion, Culture, and Public Life.

Lacorne, a history professor at Sciences Po in Paris, has authored several political titles including The Limits of Tolerance: Enlightenment Values and Religious Fanaticism. Harcourt is a law and political science professor at the Law School, and has authored The Counterrevolution: How Our Government Went to War Against Its Own Citizens. Berman is a political science professor at Barnard and the author of Democracy and Dictatorship: From the Ancien Regime to the Present Day.

Berman initiated the conversation by gauging the panelists definitions of tolerance and intolerance, two terms that would remain central and contested throughout the conversation. Lacorne drew on historical context and defined tolerance in terms of constitutional and natural rights that were introduced by the end of the 18th century.

Harcourt challenged the notion of non-restricted tolerance by claiming that speech can never be completely free, citing Columbia as a site of restricted speech.

For instance, on a campus like Columbia, there isnt anything like free speech; its not free. There are always attachments: Its funded by an organization that receives money from the University or another organization. It costs money to bring in speakers, etc. And all of that is regulated, where you get space to have your speech, etc., Harcourt said.

The theme of societal regulations of speech permeated much of the remainder of their conversation, with Lacorne noting, [Theres] nothing rigid about [what speech is allowed], and norms of behavior are also changing all the time.

When Berman urged the panelists to name the specific conditions under which something would be deemed intolerable in todays society, Harcourt highlighted current impacts and ramifications of the past and said people should address the issues of today with an understanding of the histories of oppression that precede.

What we should do is try to address historical legacies of oppression. In other words, that today, we live in a time that is the product of a series of oppressive relations. ... Those legacies continue, we live with them, Harcourt said.

In response to an audience members question regarding whose responsibility it is to define and combat intolerance, Harcourt stated, It is an exercise for civil society, for us, to not be tolerant toward intolerable conditions of exploitation, of inequality.

Staff writer Defne Egbo can be contacted at defne.egbo@columbiaspectator.com. Follow the Spectator on Twitter @ColumbiaSpec.

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Should We Tolerate the Intolerant?: a debate on the limits of free speech and tolerance - CU Columbia Spectator

SALT LAKE CITY Not cinema. Theme parks. Despicable.

Decorated filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola have pointed opinions about superhero movies. The directors behind Taxi Driver and The Godfather, respectively, have both made headlines in the past few weeks for sharing their critical opinions of Marvel movies in particular.

On Monday, Scorsese penned an opinion piece for The New York Times, writing that franchise films have become the primary source of entertainment making this a difficult time in the movie industry.

Theres worldwide audiovisual entertainment, and theres cinema. They still overlap from time to time, but thats becoming increasingly rare, Scorsese writes. And I fear that the financial dominance of one is being used to marginalize and even belittle the existence of the other. For anyone who dreams of making movies or who is just starting out, the situation at this moment is brutal and inhospitable to art. And the act of simply writing those words fills me with terrible sadness.

The stars and directors of Marvel movies, and (of course) social media users, fired back.

The debate started with an interview Scorsese gave to Empire magazine in early October. Stating his belief that Marvel movies are not cinema and that they are more like theme parks, Scorsese told Empire these films are not the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.

Coppola took things a step further, saying in a recent interview that he calls superhero movies despicable, according to The Guardian.

When Martin Scorsese says that the Marvel pictures are not cinema, hes right, Coppola said, adding that we expect to learn something from cinema, we expect to gain something, some enlightenment, some knowledge, some inspiration.

What is it about superhero movies that are so polarizing? Marvel turning into such a pop culture behemoth probably has something to do with it. Theres a sort of David-versus-Goliath element to many of the comments from Marvel detractors, a feeling that cinema and the independent filmmakers behind riskier projects need to be defended from the encroachment of men (and women) in capes.

But are they right? Are Marvel movies really just a cinematic amusement park, as Scorsese says, made only to entertain and take our money? Or are they capable of imparting enlightenment, knowledge and inspiration what Coppola defines as cinema?

A lower art form?

The debate over what type of movies can be labeled cinema or art is nothing new.

Genre films, which include fantasy or science fiction (like superhero movies), as well as anything from horror to romance to Western, tend to be looked down upon, according to Jeffrey A. Brown, an associate professor of popular culture at Bowling Green State University and author of The Modern Superhero in Film and Television.

Critics often dismiss horror as a genre worthy of critical acclaim. A recent movement in Hollywood has referred to certain films that are well-received by critics as elevated horror like Get Out or Hereditary in order to distinguish them from more run-of-the-mill horror films (like the Scream franchise), according to an article from BBC last year.

Whenever a horror movie makes a splash ... there is invariably an article calling it smart or elevated or art house horror, novelist and critic Anne Billson tweeted. They hate horror SO MUCH they have to frame its hits as something else.

Superhero movies seem to be in the same boat, and it doesnt help that their source material comic books have also been traditionally viewed as a lower art form. The very first superhero adaptations were considered B movies, Matthew McAllister, a professor of media studies at Pennsylvania State University, told the Deseret News.

You know, you release them to kids, you have third-rate stars, you make them quickly, the dialogue is hackneyed.

Superhero movies and reception

It wasnt until the 1970s and 80s that Hollywood began to see any real potential in superheroes. Superman, starring Christopher Reeve in 1978, and Tim Burtons Batman in 1989 were game-changers for the genre, McAllister said.

Superman brought in big stars like Marlon Brando and planned sequels, McAllister said. And Batman brought in all the merchandise.

But even still, the success of these films were seen more as one-off events than part of a larger trend toward superheroes in general. Though both Superman and Batman had sequels, they didnt do as well at the box office.

It wasnt until the launch of the X-Men franchise in 2000 and particularly Sam Raimis Spiderman in 2002 that superheroes really began to take off. Spiderman, starring Tobey Maguire, was the first summer blockbuster after 9/11. It was an unprecedented hit, breaking box-office records when it took in $114.8 million after just three days in theaters.

The popularity of superhero movies at this time is no coincidence. Their rise has coincided with the 9/11 era, and superheroes that come in and save the day serve a cultural purpose during this moment of American history, Brown said, adding that when the world is in a state of disorder, it can be inspiring to watch a clear-cut battle between forces of good and evil and see the good guys triumph.

Other superhero films quickly followed in the wake of Spiderman, including two Spiderman sequels, more entries in the X-Men franchise and Christopher Nolans Batman Begins in 2005. There were also less-successful films such as Daredevil, Ghost Rider and Fantastic Four.

But the game changed again in 2008, when Marvel Studios released a film about Iron Man a lesser-known hero. Not only was the film wildly successful, but Marvel released it with an endgame in mind: Iron Man was only part of a larger picture, phase one of a larger wave of superhero movies to come.

This forethought has defined the superhero genre ever since. Superhero films are no longer just series both Marvel and DC refer to their collection of films as a universe. And earlier this year, Avengers: Endgame broke box office records to become the highest-grossing film in history, earning more than $2.7 billion worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

These are things that are not planned by the year, McAllister said. Theyre planned by the decade.

The dangerous side of superhero movie success

With movies like Avengers: Endgame dominating the box office (seven of the top 11 highest-grossing films in 2018 were superhero movies, according to reports), the concern from filmmakers like Coppola and Scorsese is understandable.

Superheroes are taking over Hollywood, often at the expense of other types of films. Many independent filmmakers are seeing this play out as studios are unwilling to spend money on what they view as riskier projects.

Even Scorsese said hes been affected. The director worked with Netflix rather than a more traditional movie studio to release his newest film The Irishman. The film will have a limited theatrical release before moving to the streaming service in late November. In his New York Times op-ed, Scorsese implied that at least part of the reason for the shorter theatrical release of The Irishman has to do with an overabundance of superheroes.

Would I like the picture to play on more big screens for longer periods of time? Of course I would, Scorsese wrote. But no matter whom you make your movie with, the fact is that the screens in most multiplexes are crowded with franchise pictures.

In a somewhat surprising move, Marvel superheroes like Benedict Cumberbatch have stepped into the ring and come to Scorseses defense.

I know theres been a lot of debate recently with these very fine filmmakers coming to the fore saying that these film franchises are taking over everything, Cumberbatch said, according to the Guardian. And I agree, you know. We dont want one king to rule it all and have a kind of monopoly. ... We should really look into continuing to support auteur filmmakers at every level.

What does this mean for cinema?

With their dominance in the industry, should Marvel movies be considered cinema?

If we follow Coppolas definition that we gain some enlightenment, some knowledge, or some inspiration from cinema, then it possibly can.

The lessons are there, Brown said, adding that sometimes theyre easy to miss because theyre wrapped up in entertainment.

He pointed to Black Panther a film that grapples with racial issues and frustrations and also the recently released Joker that deals with mental health issues. But other films may be more subtle about their treatment of serious topics.

At a basic level, the stories are about right and wrong, good and evil, how people should behave, Brown said. There are lessons in there about justice, about the law, about how we should treat each other. And theyre wrapped up in explosions and a lot of fun, and characters that can fly, which just makes it a lot more digestible.

But while there are valuable lessons to be gained from superhero films, McAllister said the oversaturation of the market and Hollywoods love affair with superheroes could be problematic.

Are they the only lessons we can learn from film? Are they the only ways we can get excited about movies? I think the answer is no, he said. Theres a lot of ways we can learn from film, and a lot of ways we can get excited. But are those other ways getting shut out?

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Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola have slammed Marvel movies. But theyre missing the point - Deseret News

Catholic World News

November 05, 2019

Continue to this story on Vatican Press Office

CWN Editor's Note: Addressing participants in a forum organized by the International Federation of Catholic Universities, Pope Francis said, Education reduced to mere technical instruction or to mere information becomes a ruptured education. To believe that we can transmit knowledge by abstracting from its ethical dimension would be to abandon the task of teaching.

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'It is necessary to overcome the legacy of the Enlightenment,' Pope tells leaders of Catholic universities : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Free speech is a right promised to all Americans through the Constitution and is an integral part of democracy which must be protected. But too often, people have the wrong idea about free speech.

In extreme instances, they believe it gets them off scot-free every time they commit the crime of hate speech. More often, though, pleading ones right to free speech allows people to spout alternative facts and baseless theories without consequences. Why is this wrong? Why isnt this free speech?

To understand that, we must examine the roots of free speech. In Western society, the legal protection of free speech stems from the Enlightenment movement. The Enlightenment was brought about by a revolution in science which caused a mix of conflicting ideas and academic debate never seen before. The debate in the international scientific community led to the discussion and study of non-scientific realms of knowledge namely, society and politics.

Enlightenment thinkers believed in rationalism, the idea that nothing could be accepted on faith and everything had to be backed up with reason. And they believed through rationalism, they could move forward humanities understanding of everything, creating better societies and better people.

These were the ideals the United States was founded upon. Our founders believed the legal protection of free speech would engender the debate and discussion of ideas. Debate tears apart bad ideas, preventing them from being implemented in any way. Debate also validates good ideas because when no one can find fault with an idea, there is no reason not to implement it.

Editorial Board: Free speech and power in a protest-driven eraFreedom of speech has been an integral principle in American jurisprudence since our countrys conception. Generally, it is an idea Read

Everyone who enters a discussion with either good or bad ideas comes out better informed and with an understanding of what the best plan of action is. In a democratic form of government, we want debate because it makes the ideas government implement better. Free speech is a tool that improves governance.

The legal protection of free speech was created with the intention of encouraging people to back up with evidence their ideas in debate, free of the fear of consequences. It was not created to let people yell anything from misleading statements to outright hate speech.

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents has proposed policy that would mandate suspension or expulsion of students who repeatedly disrupt free speech on campus. This was encouraged by efforts in the State Legislature by Republicans to protect free speech. But the measures taken will only discourage free speech.

The conservative Charles Koch Institute even recently voiced its objection to the policy in an official statement.

Punishing students for their expression is not how you promote free speech, the statement said. Imposing mandatory minimum punishments without even defining for students what actions will subject them to that punishment will stifle campus dialogue rather than enrich it.

Hate speech is free speech its time that changesPresident Donald Trump signed an executive order March 21 that would withhold federal funding from universities that do not protect Read

It is my hope that this influential conservative group will convince other conservatives to encourage more free speech. The ability to speak freely is not a political issue it is the basis of democratic politics, and therefore should be promoted by everyone who takes part in them. Those who impede free speech pose a danger to democracy.

I believe this is why the rule has been proposed. The Board, much like the Koch Institute, wants free speech protected from people who impede it. Their intentions are good, but there are three major issues with it.

One, disruption can take many forms and is sometimes justified and no formal definition of disruption has been created. There is no firmly stated red line where one crosses from a heated discussion between two people, to one person disrupting the other persons ability to speak.

This is a problem because students will be discouraged from debate if they dont know at what point they run the risk of getting kicked out of school. Debate is never something that should be discouraged at an academic institution.

Two, disruption is a form of protest and banning it is undemocratic. I would support the proposal if it stated in clear terms the only forms of disruption banned were physically disrupting someone speaking freely. Otherwise, the rule could be misinterpreted to stop peaceful protest by students, of people they dont agree with. This would create a culture where we all keep our opinions to ourselves, further isolating people who hold different beliefs.

War of words: Proposed legislation reignites tensions on campus over free speechFires, pepper spray, smashed windows, punches, assaults, riots, domestic terrorism all are results of recent protests across the nation Read

Third, some forms of speech deserve to be disrupted. Lies, misleading statements and hate speech should not be protected under any circumstance. People saying these things will scream at the top of their lungs that Free speech is my right! These people use their ability to speak freely to insult and mislead, not to debate with the intention of finding the best ideas.

Their rude and/or derogatory words should get them punished for disturbing the peace. Will this rule protect hate-filled people who hide behind their false notion of free speech? That should not be its intention.

But it is possible that students rightfully opposing a man spouting hate speech could be accused of disruption of free speech by that same man when the police show up, getting them kicked out of school, and getting him out of whatever fine or imprisonment he actually deserved. While this is unlikely, the prospect would discourage students from confronting these abusers of free speech.

This rule would be detrimental for UW. It would reduce dialogue, diversity of ideas and debate the whole point of free speech while emboldening those who misuse free speech to spread hate and lies.

Board of Regents: Do you really want to create a campus where students are afraid to voice their opinions?

Harry Quick ([emailprotected]) is a freshman studying economics.

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Board of Regents' 'protection' of free speech actually does exact opposite - The Badger Herald

From busy work lives to overscheduled personal commitmentsand unprecedented hyperconnectivity everywhere in betweentravelers are more harried than ever. Luckily, the new crop of wellness resorts have upped the ante on restorative vacations, pairing the best medical technology with holistic treatments to help you recharge, replenish, and find your balance.

But unlike the retreats of old, luxury is at the forefront, leaving you feeling pampered and ready to get back to the grind. Here are 10 stunningly stylish escapes to help you open up and say ommmmm.

New Yorks summer playground has become synonymous with decadence, but elemental simplicity is key at Shou Sugi Ban House. This wabi-sabiinspired wellness getaway channels the palliative effects of the natural world in healing four-, five-, and seven-day retreats and spaces that could be described as anything but rustic.

Thirteen cabins awash in soothing blonde woods and crisp white linens come with freestanding tubs, Scandi-mod furnishings and cedar slatting make you feel like youve never left the sauna; public spaces follow suit with cozy fireside sectionals and a communal table in the dining room.

Meals are the creative brainchild of Noma co-founder Mads Reflund and feature plant-heavy dishes sourced from local farms. But the real star is the spa, which features an infrared sauna, hydrotherapy plunge pools, and restorative treatments with names like Deep Within and Clear the Path.

Rates begin at $4,650 for three nights. Book Now

If youre escaping New York, a drive on rambling Berkshires country roads past red-barn farmsteads and foliage-fringed vistas is enough to make you breathe more deeply. But one step on Canyon Ranch soil will send your parasympathetic nervous system into overdrive.

The Lenox outpost of the Arizona-based brand offers the gold standard of all-inclusive wellness: a 100,000-square-foot spa with Pilates and yoga studios and indoor and outdoor pools, on-staff physicians and nutritionists to help you achieve optimum health, and targeted programs (think sleep clinics and digital detoxes) to tap into your specific needs.

The pice de rsistance? An 1897 Carrere and Hastingsdesigned mansion where health-forward ingredients sourced from local farms are served overlooking manicured gardens and the propertys great lawn.

Rates begin at $1419 per night. Book Now

In the heart of Sedonas red-rock Boynton Canyon, Mii Amo is one of the worlds most celebrated destination spas. It also resides on a vortex, a metaphysical energy center revered for its healing properties by ancient Native Americans. As the name suggests (it means ones path in the Yuman language), the resort offers three-, four-, and seven-day all-inclusive journeys to help you find your light and recharge your spirit.

Choose chanting rituals, meditative walks through an on-site labyrinth, or chakra-opening massages, and enjoy organic, locally sourced meals made with ingredients from the chefs garden. The propertys 16 adobe-style casitas provide their own therapeutic benefits thanks to beehive fireplaces, heated floors, and private patios.

Rates begin at $2027 per night. Book Now

The town of Calistoga may be nestled in the heart of wine country, but its mineral-rich watersthe result of a geothermal aquifer that sits just below ground levelare the real reason you should visit. The hot springs feed mineral baths all over town, but most luxuriously at Calistoga Ranch, a 157-acre retreat where the cedar-shingled cottages come with outdoor showers and glass wallsthe better to soothe the senses with round-the-clock forest bathing.

If the spas essential-oil massages and outdoor mudbaths arent enough to send you into a trance, perhaps private painting lessons, a perspective-building hot-air balloon ride, or a tour of the on-site vineyard will do the trick.

Rates begin at $3930 per night. Book Now

Want to reach nirvana even faster? Use a card like the Capital One Venture card and earn unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. Even better, "erase" a wide variety of travel costs, including flights, hotels, rental cars and much more.

Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat & Health Spa

If you prefer a more rigorous approach to self-improvement, the Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat is the wellness escape for you. Here, retreats include tough-love professional instruction (a clinical psychologist and lifestyle coach is available for consultations even before you arrive) and three to four hours of hiking daily through pristine British Columbia wilderness.

One- and two-week programs for just 16 guests encourage overall well-being, bringing hormones into balance, lowering stress levels, detoxifying bodily systems, and improving sleep with sunrise yoga, mindfulness lectures, and a healthy menu thats more gourmet than granola. But its not all work. An on-site spa offers everything from infrared saunas and hydrotherapy pools to massages and soaks in natural hot springs.

Rates begin at $5400 for a week. Book Now

In addition to their contributions in architecture, astronomy, and writing, the Maya created sophisticated systems for healing. Some of those customs form the basis of the wellness program at Chabl, a beach refuge that blends indigenous rituals with the sybaritic luxuries of a modern resort. At the 17,000-square-foot spa, guests may indulge in locally sourced herbal treatments, hydrotherapy pools, and a traditional Temazcal ceremony performed by a local shaman.

The 70 stone-and-wood casitas provide their own opportunities for relaxation with indoor-outdoor showers, private pools, and tech-forward amenities like retractable glass walls. The regional focus continues in two restaurants, where celebrity chef Jorge Vallejos Mexican delicacies (think prickly pear and watermelon salad and octopus tacos) join grilled fresh-caught fish and homemade breads.

Rates begin at $620 per night. Book Now

What better place to engage in some healthy self-reflection than along the pristine waters of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealands remote Southern Alps? The primordial backdrop is the setting for Aro Ha, a sustainable wellness resort that feels a little like boot camp for the spiritually downtrodden.

After waking to the sound of Tibetan chimes in one of the 20 minimalist cabins, guests participate in sunrise yoga sessions and rigorous nature hikes to exercise the mind and body, as well as mindfulness and meditation practices and curated activities like cooking classes and kayaking excursions. Daily massages help ease aches and pains and get blood flowing to aid in detoxifying efforts, as does the garden-grown, Paleo-friendly menu served in the main house.

Rates begin at $4832 for seven nights. Book Now

Located just outside bustling Ubud, COMO Shambala Estate is worlds away in spirit and takes a pampering approach to holistic healthwitness the suites, where canopy beds and thatched roofs meet locally made furnishings and airy open-air pavilions.

Though guests engage with Ayurvedic doctors and specialists in Chinese medicine in formal regimens, the resort also offers fitness classes, rock climbing, hiking, and white-water rafting in the nearby Ayung River for a more adrenaline-pumping approach to spiritual and physical healing. After an intense morning, kick back in the spring-fed pool, then expect to be dazzled with spicy curries and wok-fried seafood (caught earlier that day), served in a stunning 150-year-old house filled with intricate carved wood.

Rates begin at $473 per night. Book Now

The path to enlightenment runs through Vana, a 21-acre ashram nestled into a valley in the Himalayan foothills near the northern Indian city of Rishikesh, also known as the birthplace of yoga. Designed by Spanish architects, the LEED-certified resort is the picture of luxury, with organic linens, private plunge pools, and shower water heated by solar panels, plus expansive windows overlooking endless forests (and a monkey or two).

The wellness regimen is even more thoughtful. A host of Tibetan doctors, nutritionists, and yoga instructors prescribe everything from Ayurvedic remedies, breathing, and meditation classes to daily yoga sessions and soothing spa treatments to help you find balance. There are plenty of secular activities to help guide you as well, including traditional Indian weaving and landscape painting lessons. Best of all, cellphones and laptops are banned in public spaces. Disconnecting never felt so good.

Rates begin at $480 per night. Book Now

Who better to lead you on your spiritual journey than Marina Efraimoglou, a Greek bank chairwoman who traded in finance for Chinese medicine when she was diagnosed with cancer and channeled her recovery efforts into the sybaritic Euphoria Retreat? Designed to reflect the pristine natural surroundings, as well as the medieval ruins of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mystras, the 45-room resort feels like a series of Zen caves carved into the mountainside, with olive oil-infused mattresses, oak furnishings, steam showers, and marble and gold accents.

The holistic spa specializes in targeted programs that incorporate treatments inspired by the five elements, from detoxifying body wraps to metabolism-boosting activities like rafting, climbing, and hiking. Best of all, the premises feature a Roman-style tepidarium, a Finnish sauna, a Byzantine hammam, and a womb-like thermal pool scored by the sounds of dolphin and whale song.

Rates begin at $325 per night. Book Now

Icelands Blue Lagoon is renowned for its healing properties, so its only natural that the geothermal pools aquamarine waters have become the backdrop for one of the worlds most stylish escapes for soul-searching aesthetes. Seemingly carved into inky black lava fields, The Retreat feels at once futuristic and eternal, rising out of the rock in minimalist forms that feature wood and concrete walls, freestanding tubs, and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow the moss-covered landscape to set the tone.

While the 62-room resort offers group hiking trips and daily yoga classes, no stay would be complete without a visit to the subterranean spa, where you can steam up in a cave, indulge in an in-water massage, or simply hover above the mineral-rich waters in nest-like wrought-iron hanging chairs.

Rates begin at $1,180 per night. Book Now

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The 10 Luxury Wellness Escapes You'll Want to Book for 2020 - TownandCountrymag.com

Despite all the good that came out of the Enlightenment including the recovery of ancient sources of all kinds, and an interest in their historical substance (see my lecture on The Bible and the Reformation in JETS), there was, as Wright notes Enlightenments radical split of cosmology and history are bound to produce false readings.if we think of a closed continuum of Epicurean world-development then anything to do with God must by definition be entirely separate.This is one reason why Bultmann turned eschatology into a metaphor for private spiritual experience. (p. 130).

Wright continues to promote the perspectives of his teacher, G.B. Caird, and his famous book The Language and Imagery of the Bible. He thinks it helps to deal with the imagery and metaphors in apocalyptic literature, and he is quite right about that. The Jewish two ages notion (this age and the age to come) takes a particular twist in the teachings of Jesus and Paul, namely that the age to come has already broken into this age, inaugurated by the death of Jesus, if not by his earlier ministry itself. Wright points to Qumran which also seems to have thought that some eschatological events had already transpired.

The burden of chapter 4 is to critique false views of eschatology and apocalyptic, having already found the imminentist view of Schweizter and others defective (i.e. the end is coming soon to a theater near you), as well as konsequent eschatology which over-emphasized the already aspect of the already-not yet schema of eschatology. His particular target is several false notions: 1) that apocalyptic means what Schweitzer said namely it refers to the near end of the world. No says Wright, apocalyptic is a literary genre (see below), not a particular point of view on the timing of the last things; but also 2) Wright wishes to critique Lou Martyn and his whole approach to apocalyptic that wants to argue for an incursion model (see pp. 133ff.), divine invasion from above. Divine disclosure or victory with no historical antecedents. And Martyn tags this to the death of Jesus, whereas his teacher E. Kasemann links it to the future end things, particularly the victory brought about by the parousia.

Wrights own view, based on Cairds, is that the apocalyptic language has to be decoded, not demythologized, and this involving seeing that apocalyptic is a socio-political critique of empire, where the cosmic battles are actually transpiring (p. 134). My problem with this is not that there is not critique of empire in Revelation, for example, because there is, but that there is also much said about what is going on in the non-material realm as well, in particular in heaven. Apocalyptic cant be reduced to political critique in theological clothing, though it certainly involves such a critique. And while we are at it Rev. 6-19 certainly suggests action in heaven that brings judgments to earth. Apocalyptic is not merely a this worldly critique of historical forces and processes. And if the book is talking about Christ returning, the proper question is where did he go in the meanwhile?? In other words, apocalyptic is also about the heavenly realm.

And then there is Wrights exegesis of Dan. 7 as about the ascension and exaltation of Christ, which simply doesnt work (nor is Mt. 28. 18-20 simply a rerun of Dan. 7.13-14 p. 148). Dan. 7 is about the coming of Gods kingdom on earth to eclipse the previous human kingdoms. In particular its about the Son of Man coming from heaven to judge the world, to fulfill the Yom Yahweh. Where Wrights exegesis of Dan. 7 completely falls apart is when we are told that the nations will worship the Son of Man and he will reign forever. This clearly has not happened yet, and is associated in Revelation 21-22 with the final stages of the new creation. In other words, while there is plenty of political critique of beastly empires in both Daniel and Revelation, in neither case is that all that the apocalyptic language refers to. It also refers to the future breaking into human history of Gods just judgments through the person of the Son of Man. On the other hand, a text like Mk. 9.1 certainly could refer to the Transfiguration being a resurrection of Christ preview if it is not a parousia preview. There are also problems with Wrights take on Rom. 9-11, because there it is made clear that by Israel Paul doesnt mean Jew and Gentile united in Christ, indeed he means Jews temporarily broken off from the people of God while Gentiles are brought into Gods people, but that at the return of Christ all Israel will be saved, by which Paul means a large number of Jews at the return of Christ. In other words, there are some issues with reducing apocalyptic to just socio-political critique in the present.

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Tom Wright's History and Eschatology Part Six - Patheos

Lets start off with some simple facts of life. Water is wet, grass is green and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) has been even when keeping its modest mission in mind a failure for most of the people who sat through it in their youth.

Most of us raised in the United States remember D.A.R.E., if not for the riveting curriculum, then at least for the cool shirts that are almost exclusively worn ironically.

To provide students with the knowledge and tools they need to resist drugs, alcohol and other high-risk behaviors is D.A.R.E.s mission, according to its website. Developed in the '80s with the Just Say No movement by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which has a reputation regarding its community outreach, and the Los Angeles Unified School District, D.A.R.E. became nationwide and then grew to international use.

When it comes to the general inefficacy of its program, D.A.R.E. seems to understand why.

When detailing its history, D.A.R.E. is eager to explain where it went wrong. While discussion was encouraged, the prevailing approach in the original curriculum involved the D.A.R.E. Officer teaching each lesson, according to the website. Undoubtedly, thats one of the primary issues concerning a program like D.A.R.E., which relies on visiting instructors whose job is to throw some information your way.

Lectures are the name of the game in college, but when youre in a room full of 13-year-olds, its clear that that approach wont work.

Post-2007, it seems that the program got the message that walking into a room, introducing kids to a whole bunch of drugs theyd never heard of and telling them not to do them wasnt a winning strategy.

This isnt to discount all of the work it has done before 2007, but it ties into the lack of real grappling with D.A.R.E.s mission.

Since its moment of enlightenment, it has been noted that its teaching style became interactive with an emphasis on facilitation, rather than a didactic presentation model. Instead of listening to a lecture, students spend most class time working in small cooperative learning groups, guided by the D.A.R.E. officer as they apply a decision-making model to develop their own unique ways of positively addressing high-risk situations in their lives.

This was, undoubtedly, a step in the right direction, but there are aspects of the D.A.R.E. program that are far from conducive to meeting its long-term goals.

One of the crucial tenets to effective pedagogy is building upon a students prior experiences and learning. The National College for School Leadership (NCSL), a former branch of the United Kingdoms Department of Education, listed taking these past experiences as one of the nine keys to quality teaching.

In the mid-20th century, research into childrens learning and cognitive development was heavily influenced by the work of (Jean) Piaget ... Piagets approach to child development emphasized three elements: the way a child explored her environment, the developmental stages through which children passed in making sense of the environment and the role of adults in assessing a childs readiness to learn, a report from the agency stated.

This ties back to the irony of the progenitors, and current teachers, of D.A.R.E.s message: the police. In many communities around the country, to put it simply, the police arent trusted. A 2017 Gallup poll reported that 57% of Americans have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the police, which is the historical average.

Regardless of whether you think thats a good number for the police in general, its not the best for people who are required to teach the youth. When a police uniform is enough to turn off a student to what theyll hear, its clear that having a police officer teach D.A.R.E. programs is hustling backward in large swathes of the country.

D.A.R.E. also has an interesting take on the increasing legalization of marijuana. It correctly stated that it is neither safe nor healthy for students and all children under the age of 18 to use marijuana, but with the stated goal of effecting future use, the way it has taught that marijuana is to be avoided in any circumstance is, once again, contradictory at best.

These are far from the only reasons why D.A.R.E. didnt work, but it has substantial issues with the program. Cool t-shirts aside, all you have to do is walk down Easton Avenue any given Saturday night to see that D.A.R.E. didnt always, and probably rarely, met its own marks.

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Dare to criticize D.A.R.E., ineffectively educating our youth - RU Daily Targum