Ideas, opinions, politics, humanities
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The evolution of Satan: A God’s servant and the Prince of evil
You think you know him, of course. The red skin, the horns, the pitchfork, the tail. The guy in the basement with a trident, laughing while people burn. That is not Satan, however. That is a cartoon. The real Satan is older, stranger, and far more complicated. He did not start out as the bad…
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The curse of privilege: Why I don’t believe in free will
Every successful person enjoys hearing that they deserve everything they have achieved. Society constantly celebrates hard work, intelligence, discipline, determination, and perseverance. Those who become wealthy are often called self-made. Great scientists are praised for their brilliance. Successful entrepreneurs are admired for their vision. Writers are congratulated for their talent. At the same time, people…
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The Amish, the Hasidic, and the Taliban: Who is more extreme?
It is a comparison that appears surprisingly often. Images of Amish horse-drawn buggies, Hasidic Jews in black coats and fur hats, and Taliban fighters carrying rifles are frequently grouped together as symbols of religious “extremism.” At first glance, they all seem to reject many aspects of the modern world. They dress differently, follow strict religious…
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Megachurches, private jets, big money. We are real Christians
There is a man in America. He has three private jets, a mansion with gold-plated faucets, and a wife whose face has been rearranged by plastic surgeons more times than the Bible has been translated. He preaches on a stage that looks like a rock concert, surrounded by LED screens, fog machines, and a choir…
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When slant-eyed politician promotes white race
The Czech Republic has a mentally retarded and psychiatric ill electorate. Let us not mince words about it. This is not an insult; this is a clinical observation of a populace that has, for decades, been fed a steady diet of cheap beer, cheaper propaganda, and the comforting lullaby of victimhood. They have forgotten history,…
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A circus came to the US. After years, the show was over
Once upon a time, there was a country called the United States. Long ago, its politics appeared ordinary. Presidents were often highly educated, institutions generally functioned, and although democracy was far from perfect, many people believed it still worked well enough. As the years passed, however, something changed. Invisible strings slowly spread across the kingdom.…
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Zohran Mamdani: No distinction between radical and secular Islam
The election of New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, once again exposed one of the biggest weaknesses of modern political debate. For many people, the word “Muslim” immediately evokes terrorism, religious extremism, the September 11 attacks, or authoritarian regimes. Others react in the opposite direction, refusing to acknowledge that Islamist extremism exists at all.…
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When stealing accelerates progress: The AI race between the US and China
Artificial intelligence has become one of the defining technologies of the twenty-first century. It may transform medicine, education, science, transportation, manufacturing, finance, communication, and warfare. It may also change how people work, how governments exercise power, and how companies create wealth. Therefore, the race for leadership in artificial intelligence carries enormous economic and political importance.…
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Pedophilia: “There’ll be a guillotine for this!” And Trump
Since I am open about my lifelong mental health struggles, I am also open about having been institutionalized in a mental hospital. I belong (fortunately) to the small minority of people who need this. So I completely understand people who don’t have a typical sexual orientation. And not everyone needs to be hospitalized (for example).…
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Why Democrats and Republicans abandon ideology
Politics is supposed to be driven by ideas. Conservatives should defend conservative principles. Progressives should defend progressive ones. Parties should disagree because they genuinely see the world differently. Voters should know what they are supporting. That is the democratic ideal. Reality looks very different. Modern American politics increasingly resembles a contest of personalities, donors, and…