Tag: Culture

9-11, America, Anger, Bible, Christian Nationalism, Christianity, Citizenship, Culture, death, fear, Grief, Politics, Story, Tragedy2 Comments

Reaping the Whirlwind

Gary Furr

Waiting out the firestorm while America goes for its kerosene cans and lighters. Some random thoughts: It is striking to see the overwhelming need to comment about a senseless murder. We’ve all become content providers and there are no consumers left to think about each others’ thoughts. The one thing about tragic and unexpected loss is that the more you say to the sufferer the worse you make it. The less you say, the wiser you appear. If you are silent, you are kept from stupidity. If you post your opinions about it your foolishness can live eternally. Much is … Continue reading Reaping the Whirlwind

Books, change, Christianity, Citizenship, Culture, Ethics, humanity, Institutions, Modern Life, Politics, REVIEWS--Books, Movies, Music, social media, Story, Technology, Theology

AI, Social Media and the Future of Us

Gary Furr

Chris Hayes, The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became theWorld’s Most Endangered Resource. Penguin Random House, 2025 and Nicholas Carr, Superbloom: How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart, W. W. Norton & Company, 2024. The latest issue of Christian Ethics Today has come out. I wrote an extensive twin review in the issue about these two excellent books that are well worth your time. A couple of short quotes from the review. Chris Hayes is the well known host of MSNBCs All In. From Hayes’ book: Nicholas Carr has written another book that profoundly shaped my understanding of the current technological … Continue reading AI, Social Media and the Future of Us

Bible, Christian Nationalism, Christianity, Citizenship, Culture, Ethics, Faith, fear, Hope, hope, humanity, Jesus, Love, Politics, Story, Television

Random Thoughts from the Bargain Bin

Gary Furr

When the new Pope began speaking, I wasn’t sure what language I’d be hearing, so I turned on “live captioning.” When he said, “We must pray to Mother Mary” in Italian, it said, “Pray to Mother PayPal.” (Did that J.D. Vance do that?) In the gospel of Matthew, we are told the Wise men came to Jerusalem, asking where the child was to be born. The Bible says, “When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him.” As a precaution, he ordered all the baby boys massacred. So when terrible things happen, trace irrational oppression. You … Continue reading Random Thoughts from the Bargain Bin

America, Children, Citizenship, Culture, Ethics, Family, Grace, Hope, hope, humanity, Leadership, spirituality, Story1 Comment

Glimmers of Hope

Gary Furr

Glimmers of Hope Sometimes. I stand back and think of how strange this moment is. We had a car sale on the lawn of the White House. People are screaming at their representatives at town hall meetings. A man who said he could make the government run better got on a stage with a chainsaw to encourage us somehow. I have abandoned arguing on Facebook with anyone. Well occasionally I get sucked in like we all do, but it seems as though we cannot decide who the real adults are. Adults are not acquitting themselves too well at the present … Continue reading Glimmers of Hope

Story

The Kennedy Center and Lara Trump’s Big Break*

Gary Furr

Amid the intense battles in this political moment,  a most exciting development for the MAGA  faithful is that the President has appointed himself Chair of the Kennedy Center. MAGA world is positively abuzz with excitement as the venue promises a pro-America makeover. Kentucky Fried Chicken, Carl’s Junior, and McDonalds are planning concession booths as the the stars of the far, far, far right jockey for seats and luxury boxes. According to the New York Times, “Stephen K. Bannon, the longtime Trump adviser, thinks there should be an opening night performance of the J6 Prison Choir, made up of men once … Continue reading The Kennedy Center and Lara Trump’s Big Break*