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From ancient texts to modern practices, Daoism provides a profound framework for understanding the world not as broken but as naturally seeking balance

Religion

(THE CONVERSATION) Daoism, China's indigenous religion, is one of the country's five officially recognized religions today. Practiced by millions of people in China and around the world, Daoism takes on many forms, stretching back from ancient roots to the modern world. It challenges the conventions of how people often define religion. Unlike many other faiths, Daoism does not necessarily center on a deity, though there are many Daoist deities. Nor does it have a unified system of beliefs or follow a singular authoritative doctrine. In fact, followers say the Dao, which literally ...

Religion Briefs

Religion

Editor’s note: To submit a nonprofit announcement to The Sentinel’s Religion section, contact Tom Laub at (717) 248-6741 or by email at living@lewistownsentinel.com. Items also may be faxed to (717) 248-3481 or sent to The Sentinel, 21 S. Brown St., Lewistown, PA 17044. Items must be received by Tuesday during business hours for publication in the Saturday edition. Submissions will be published as space allows. The editor reserves the right to edit all submissions. ••• First Bakers UMC to host Bible study McCLURE — First Bakers United Methodist Church will host a Bible ...

The medieval world had its own 'deepfakes' – church officials cited a fake imperial decree for centuries

Religion

(THE CONVERSATION) With deepfakes on the rise, forgery and deception are often viewed as distinctly modern problems – a new era of misinformation made possible by artificial intelligence. One of the first alarming cases occurred at the start of the war in Ukraine when a doctored video appeared to show President Volodymyr Zelenskyy telling his soldiers to lay down their weapons. Yet the impulse to deceive people by fabricating evidence far predates the digital age. And in some cases, the consequences of these deceptions set off enormous ramifications for centuries thereafter. As a ...

Giotto's famed fresco cycle depicting St. Francis of Assisi restored in Florence

Religion

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — A cycle of frescoes by Italian 14th-century master Giotto, depicting key moments in the life of St. Francis of Assisi, has been unveiled after a four-year restoration. The newly vibrant "Stories of St. Francis" were shown to the public last week in the Basilica of Santa Croce, just in time for the 800th anniversary of the saint's death on Oct. 4. Giotto, who died in Florence in 1337, is considered by many to be the greatest Italian painter of his time and is considered the father of European painting. His artistic innovations informed the Renaissance style ...

Happy are the peacemakers, part one

Religion

[Editor’s Note: This is part one of a three-part article by Dr. James Barnes] The idea of peace dominates the Bible. It opens with peace in the Garden of Eden and closes with peace in eternity. But in between that peace in the Garden and the peace that is to come in eternity, there has ...