All posts tagged: Depictions

The enduring legacy of medieval Christian depictions of Islam in today’s political discourse

The enduring legacy of medieval Christian depictions of Islam in today’s political discourse

Published by Sam Flores

(The Conversation) — The war with Iran is not just a geopolitical conflict. We see religious rhetoric used to cast strategic interests as a moral or sacred matter. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson described Iran’s majority faith tradition, Shiite Islam, as a “misguided religion” while discussing the ongoing U.S. strikes against Iran on March 4, 2026. A complaint made to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation alleged that same month that an unnamed military commander had said that “President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.” In the Book of Revelation, Armageddon represents the final battle between good and evil, associated with the second coming of Jesus Christ. Soon after the U.S. attack on Iran, right-wing pastor Andrew Sedra commented that “Trump is going after the head of the snake, which is Islam.” He added that “God is using President Trump in a prophetic moment of time to execute judgment on evil and wicked civilizations.” In part, such religious rhetoric draws …

New study finds AI depictions of Neanderthals are outdated and wrong

New study finds AI depictions of Neanderthals are outdated and wrong

Published by Jenni Sidey

Over the past 40 years, phones and computers have turned into the world’s largest library. Answers now arrive in seconds. With generative artificial intelligence, that speed has only increased. A question about ancient humans or heart rate changes can be answered instantly. What still lags behind is accuracy. That gap is the focus of new research led by Matthew Magnani, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Maine, and Jon Clindaniel, a professor of computational anthropology at the University of Chicago. Their study, published in the journal Advances in Archaeological Practice, asks a simple question with wide impact: when AI is asked to show daily life in the deep past, does it reflect modern science or outdated ideas? The researchers turned to Neanderthals as their test case. The species, known scientifically as Homo neanderthalensis, has been debated for more than a century. Early scientists pictured Neanderthals as hunched, primitive, and barely human. More recent work paints a different picture, showing cultural skill, social depth, and physical diversity. That long shift made Neanderthals an …

Depictions of faith in TV, movies appeal across religious and political lines, new survey finds

Depictions of faith in TV, movies appeal across religious and political lines, new survey finds

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — Religion portrayed in contemporary American entertainment isn’t turning people away from their screens, but new research suggests it may be a key factor in some television shows’ and movies’ appeal, regardless of people’s religious or political affiliation. A national survey conducted by HarrisX, a data analytics and market research company, in partnership with the Faith & Media Initiative, explored how audiences react to expressions of faith when they appear in mainstream movies and television, including in shows such as “The Pitt,” “Young Sheldon,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” “The West Wing,” “Ramy” and “Nobody Wants This.” The survey, released this week, found that 77% of entertainment consumers agreed that faith in TV and movies is broadly appealing, with support consistent across age groups — including Generation Z (79%), millennials (83%), Generation X (78%) and baby boomers (72%) — as well as across political party lines (Republicans 82%, Democrats 75%, independents 73%).  Brooke Zaugg, executive director of the Faith & Media Initiative since 2021, also pointed to the finding that 92% of consumers said they are open to …