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‘Animism’ recognizes animals and places have power over humans

The Conversation A movement known as “new animism,” which seeks to secure personhood rights for nonhuman beings through legal means, is gaining a following around the globe. New animist environmental activists are not the only ones using the term. Animism itself has become fashionable. Some spirituality bloggers talk about animism as a way to deepen one’s spiritual relationship to nature. Scholars – from anthropologists to philosophers – have taken a renewed interest in the concept. Most of these people are using animism in a very general, and inaccurate, way, to mean the ...

Robots performing Hindu rituals, some devotees fear they’ll replace worshippers

The Conversation It isn’t just artists and teachers who are losing sleep over advances in automation and artificial intelligence. Robots are being brought into Hinduism’s holiest rituals – and not all worshippers are happy about it. In 2017, a technology firm in India introduced a robotic arm to perform “aarti,” a ritual in which a devotee offers an oil lamp to the deity to symbolize the removal of darkness. This particular robot was unveiled at the Ganpati festival, a yearly gathering of millions of people in which an icon of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is taken out ...

Religion Briefs

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, 352 Sixth St., Lewistown, PA 17044. Items must be received by Tuesday 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 LEWISTOWN — First Bakers United Methodist Church will host a Bible study every Wednesday at ...

End of an Era

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO The Associated Press NEW YORK — Through more than 200 years, the Sisters of Charity of New York nursed Civil War casualties, joined civil rights and anti-war demonstrations, cared for orphans, and taught countless children. They’re proud of their history of selfless service. But they can’t ignore their current reality: The congregation continues to shrink and age — and not a single new sister has joined their U.S. group in more than 20 years. After much prayer and contemplation, they made a tough decision that marked the beginning of the Catholic ...

All scripture is given by inspiration of God

II Timothy 3:16 We have been considering different translations and versions of the Bible. As individuals, there are many things we should remember when choosing a certain version of the Bible. The Bible we choose should reflect the original words and thoughts of the prophets, apostles, and men of God, not necessarily the thoughts of a king or a religious person. We do not want a paraphrase that adds to or takes away from God’s original message. The original message given by God was (is) the true Word of God. So, we know that we cannot hold up the Geneva Bible or the Authorized King ...

He is our shepherd, as well

Psalm 23:1-6 Something serious is happening to our homes- -something that bodes ill for our society in the future. For our homes are where the future is decided. Life has never been easy or risk-free. Since the beginning of recorded history, life has been uncertain. The bubonic plague, sometimes called The Black Death of the Middle Ages, the Hundred Years War, the Irish potato famine, and countless other fearful threats have loomed over peoples down through the centuries, but there’s something which provided hope and stability even under prolonged perils, something that’s fading ...