All posts tagged: god

The Hindu god Ganesh turns macho and martial in Indian festivities

The Hindu god Ganesh turns macho and martial in Indian festivities

Get RNS’ thoughtful, essential religion reporting every morning. Sign up for free! MUMBAI, India (RNS) — On a street corner in Khetwadi in south Mumbai, an elephant-headed god towers above — his chiseled torso puffed out proud, with a mane of uncharacteristically long hair surrounding his face. The 47-foot idol of Ganpati, one of the most prominent gods in the Hindu pantheon, is one of thousands set up for community celebrations across the city for the 10-day festival that began Monday (Sept. 14).  Every year, Ganpati, also popularly called Ganesh/Ganesha, is celebrated across India, where large and small idols of the god are worshipped before being immersed in the water. Most commonly, Ganpati has been portrayed as cherubic and playful, usually seated and with a conspicuous, round belly.  But in the past decade, this cute and cuddly god has come to be showcased in a variety of more dynamic, macho and unconventional ways, driven by a combination of social media, pop culture, changing aesthetic standards and a muscular Hindu nationalism.   “Every year we do a different theme,” said …

Coronation Street and Waiting For God actress Stephanie Cole dies | UK News

Coronation Street and Waiting For God actress Stephanie Cole dies | UK News

Actress Stephanie Cole, best known for her roles in Coronation Street, Tenko and Open All Hours, has died aged 84, her agent said. She also gave memorable performances in Waiting For God, A Bit Of A Do and Doc Martin. Her agent John Grant said she had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for some years. Image: Stephanie Cole after she collected her OBE in 2005. Pic: Fiona Hanson/PA In a statement on behalf of her family, he said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Stephanie Cole, OBE. “She passed away this morning at the age of 84. Stephanie had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for some years. “Stephanie was an extraordinary talent whose long and distinguished career included many iconic performances in theatre and television. “She brought joy to millions through her many much-loved roles in sitcom and drama. She will also be remembered for her tireless work supporting mental health charities. “During this incredibly difficult time, the family kindly requests privacy.” Cole appeared on Coronation Street between 2011 and …

God told them to sell crypto. Their investors lost everything.

God told them to sell crypto. Their investors lost everything.

This time around, as Eli tells it, his public defender warned him that it was “legally impossible” that he’d be released early again. But he heard a voice in his head repeating, “I’m going to give you probation.” And then it happened: A judge suspended his sentence. The incident became core to his worldview: “It first has to … look completely impossible,” he says, “and then that’s when God resurrects it.”  After he got out of prison, Eli’s religious zeal didn’t stick. He threw himself into a worldly goal: making money. “I just need to put on this success mask,” he recalls thinking, “so that people would see me as valuable.” He marked “no” when asked about felony convictions on job applications and eventually discovered that he had an aptitude for sales. He hawked everything from vacuum cleaners to leads for contractors, before pivoting to marketing.  In 2010, Icosa Magazine, a Denver-based publication, brought Eli on as a consultant. “He is the most charismatic bullshitter I have ever met in my life,” says Jan Mazotti, …

Can God Read Your Mind? Thomas Aquinas’s Answer

Can God Read Your Mind? Thomas Aquinas’s Answer

Summary For Aquinas, God knows your mind because He is the First Cause of all creation, including your soul and its thoughts. While our thoughts are mostly hidden from other people, they are completely transparent to God, our all-knowing Creator. Angels and demons cannot directly read your mind; they can only infer your thoughts from your actions, unlike God. God’s complete knowledge of our choices doesn’t negate free will, as He knows our free actions without forcing them. Show more   We often suppose that our thoughts and feelings are utterly private and concealed from the view of others. But for medieval philosopher, Thomas Aquinas, the so-called Angelic Doctor of the 13th century, the private fortress of one’s mind is without a ceiling and completely transparent to its Creator, who knows every being by knowing His own essence. Understanding the reasons behind this claim is critical to grasping the Scholastic universe and the connection between God and the human mind.   To Whom Is the Mind Hidden? Aquinas and the Interior Life St. Thomas Aquinas by Carlo Crivelli, 1476. Source: …

Dave Bautista shows off physical transformation to play Kratos in God of War series

Dave Bautista shows off physical transformation to play Kratos in God of War series

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Dave Bautista has given fans a glimpse of the physique he’s building to play Kratos in the upcoming God of War TV adaptation. The former WWE star was cast as the Spartan warrior last month following the shock departure of lead Ryan Hurst. On Thursday, Bautista shared a video from the gym on Instagram, where he revealed the results of his training so far. “3rd week in to weight training again. 2 more months to get to where I need to be. Like ridin a bike! LFG!” Bautista captioned the post that saw him pulling off his shirt and flexing into the camera. Sons of Anarchy and Walking Dead actor Hurst, 50, was forced to quit the show after tearing a bicep while performing …

Dave Bautista Shows Off Physical Transformation for God of War Series

Dave Bautista Shows Off Physical Transformation for God of War Series

Dave Bautista is clearly taking his training for his role as Kratos in Prime Video‘s God of War series very seriously. The actor took to Instagram on Wednesday to show off his physical transformation as he prepares to play the fierce Spartan warrior in the live-action adaptation of the popular video game franchise. In the video, Bautista can be seen flexing his muscles while letting out a scream. “3rd week in to weight training again. 2 more months to get to where I need to be. Like ridin a bike! LFG!” he wrote in the post’s caption. A former WWE star, Bautista has slimmed down from the powerhouse physique he was famed for during his wrestling days. For recent film roles such as The Killer’s Game, Trap House and The Wrecking Crew, Bautista looked muscular but notably slimmer than he did for his acting breakout role of Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But he now appears to be bulking up again for God of War. Last month, it was revealed that the Guardians of …

Does Prayer to the Saints Nullify the Word of God? – OpentheWord.org

Does Prayer to the Saints Nullify the Word of God? – OpentheWord.org

In a recent podcast, Dr. Gavin Ortlund made his case for why he believes praying to the saints is unbiblical, ChurchLeaders reports. Ortlund runs an online ministry called Truth Unites where he deals with controversial issues such as this. Praying to dead saints is a position long held by both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. They believe that people can ask Christians who have died, particularly those designated as saints, to pray for them. They point to passages such as Revelation 5:8, where John saw saints in heaven holding bowls containing the prayers of the people on earth and offering them to God: When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Revelation 5:8 NASV) Catholics teach that these heavenly saints must have heard these prayers in order to present them. Catholics also believe that since Mary is the mother of Jesus, she has her Son’s ear and praying to her can be particularly …

EastEnders icon teases Cindy Beale revenge: “God forbid what’s gonna happen”

EastEnders icon teases Cindy Beale revenge: “God forbid what’s gonna happen”

It seems revenge will be the order of the day from Cindy Beale in the coming months on EastEnders. The BBC One soap has been teasing a New Year’s Day wedding for Max Branning (Jake Wood) since the flash-forward episode in January. Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) seemed assured as Max’s bride upon their recent engagement, but now their big day has been moved forward to September. However, there is a big hitch: Max has been cheating on her with employee Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy), who is now pregnant with his child. Speaking to Radio Times on the set of Albert Square, actress Michelle Collins has teased what to expect from the Walford schemer when she learns the truth. Will Max Branning (Jake Wood, left) and Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) make it to 2027 as a couple? BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron In the run-up to the wedding in September, Cindy has been suspicious about Max’s behaviour, but he has easily talked his way out of it. Collins noted: “Max is just very, very good at being Max, …

Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ Soccer Ball Sells for .3 M.

Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ Soccer Ball Sells for $3.3 M.

The soccer ball used in the 1986 World Cup match in which Diego Maradona scored his infamous “Hand of God” goal sold for $3.35 million at Heritage Auctions in Texas. The price, however, came in well below the lot’s presale estimate of $10 million. Mike Provenzale, an auctioneer at Heritage, told Reuters before the sale that the ball was “a true one-of-a-kind item” and “arguably the most significant soccer item that exists.” Maradona scored the goal against England in the quarterfinal in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium in what initially appeared to be a header. Slow-motion replays showed the Argentine striker using his hand to punch the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton, but the referee didn’t see the foul. After the game, Maradona told reporters that the goal had been scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” Related Articles Four minutes later, with Argentina leading 1-0, Maradona scored again. This time there was no controversy. He dribbled past several England players before finding the net, and the goal was …