The Dangerous Rise of Military AI – Urban Christian News

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The video is stark. Two menacing men stand next to a white van in a field, holding remote controls. They open the van’s back doors, and the whining sound of quadcopter drones crescendos. They flip a switch, and the drones swarm out like bats from a cave. In a few seconds, we cut to a college classroom. The killer robots flood in through windows and vents. The students scream in terror, trapped inside, as the drones attack with deadly force. The lesson that the film, Slaughterbots, is trying to impart is clear: tiny killer robots are either here or a small technological advance away. Terrorists could easily deploy them. And existing defences are weak or nonexistent.

Some military experts argued that Slaughterbots – which was made by the Future of Life Institute, an organisation researching existential threats to humanity – sensationalised a serious problem, stoking fear where calm reflection was required. But when it comes to the future of war, the line between science fiction and industrial fact is often blurry. The US air force has predicted a future in which “Swat teams will send mechanical insects equipped with video cameras to creep inside a building during a hostage standoff”. One “microsystems collaborative” has already released Octoroach, an “extremely small robot with a camera and radio transmitter that can cover up to 100 metres on the ground”. It is only one of many “biomimetic”, or nature-imitating, weapons that are on the horizon.

Who knows how many other noxious creatures are now models for avant garde military theorists. A recent novel by PW…

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How Dak Prescott’s neighbors responded to his injury: A Cuban pastor explains why God has blessed America

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How Dak Prescott’s neighbors responded to his injury: A Cuban pastor explains why God has blessed America

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is tackled by New York Giants cornerback Logan Ryan, rear, in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. Prescott suffered a lower right leg injury on the play. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

In the interest of serving all our readers, I try to refrain from commenting on local news. However, after Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a gruesome ankle injury in last Sunday’s game, a story so impressed me that I wanted to share it. Dak’s neighbors put a huge sign in front of his house with giant letters in Cowboys colors. The top line reads, “GET WELL SOON.” The line below it reads, “YOUR NEIGHBORS.”

In these days of pandemic pain and distress, it’s worth remembering the good in our communities and culture. 

Here’s another example: Kevin Williamson notes in National Review that “every Nobel Prize in 2020 was awarded either to an American, a team of Americans, or a team with an American member. Not bad for a group of people comprising 4 percent of the world’s population.” 

This week’s Apple unveiling of the newest iPhone is just one example of American high tech. Amazon’s Prime Day is another. Disney’s escalating leadership in streaming-video services is yet another. The fact that all three companies are multinational but headquartered in the US makes my point. 

Good news for religious freedom 

There’s even good news on the religious freedom front. 

A federal court ruled that the District of Columbia’s coronavirus restrictions violated Capitol Hill Baptist Church’s religious-exercise rights. The church has been meeting outdoors and observing all social distancing and mask-wearing standards. The District, however, has banned all religious gatherings over one hundred people, though the mayor appeared at a huge anti-racism rally in June and her office has not enforced its own ban on other gatherings of…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Christians can abstain from voting Fred Price Jr says

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Christians can abstain from voting Fred Price Jr says

By Leonardo Blair, Christian Post Reporter Twitter Follow
Crenshaw Christian Center Pastor Fred Price Jr. returned to the helm of the church on Sunday July 1, 2018 a year after stepping down over “serious personal misjudgments.” | (Photo: Facebook)

While encouraging Christians to “vote your conscience” in the upcoming general election on Nov. 3, prominent California megachurch pastor Fred Price Jr. said that a conscientious decision can include abstention because voting “for the lesser of two evils is still evil.”

“Some of you have decided I’m going to vote for the lesser of two evils. Hey, if that helps you sleep at night, I get it. Do you know that you’re still voting for evil? The lesser of two evils is still evil. It’s just less evil than the other evil,” said Price, who leads Crenshaw Christian Center, adding that he still plans on voting this election. He  was responding to the question “How should Christians vote?” on Facebook Tuesday.

“So saints, this is why we are a people called out of the world and our system is the Kingdom of God. Regardless of who is in the White House, yes I believe that a particular candidate may be more of a benefit to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ but I do not see in any way,…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

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Six COVID Controversies in Churches Today

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They contact our team daily. 

They want to make the right decision, but it seems that any decision gets them in trouble. 

Pastors in churches around the world are, like all of us, navigating a new reality. It’s not a new normal; it is truly a new reality. 

These pastors, of course, have never been confronted with these types of controversies. They love their church members, but the church members are not always loving them back. 

Here are the six most common controversies we are hearing from pastors as they contact Church Answers. The list, of course, is not exhaustive nor is it mutually exclusive. 

  1. Mask vs. no mask. This one is by far the most common. Members get mad if masks are required. Members get mad if masks aren’t required. Masks or no masks for some members become a sign of political affiliation.
  1. Social distance vs. no social distance. As an introvert, I have been practicing social distancing all my life. But some members don’t like it. Yet, if you don’t practice social distancing in the church, some members don’t like that either.
  1. Change vs. no change. Of course, this debate is not new. But the pace of change has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Some members don’t understand why the church can’t get back to the way it’s always done it. Other members think it’s time to move rapidly before the blank slate becomes cluttered. 
  1. Same personnel vs. change in personnel. One church discovered during the pandemic it really did not need a full-time…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Kamala Harris Suspends In-Person Events after Campaign Staffer Contracts COVID-19

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Kamala Harris Suspends In-Person Events after Campaign Staffer Contracts COVID-19


Kamala Harris Suspends In-Person Events after Campaign Staffer Contracts COVID-19

After a fight crew and her communications director tested positive for COVID-19, Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris has canceled all campaign travel through the weekend.

According to ABC7 NY, Harris has tested negative for COVID-19, but is choosing to shelter in place and self-quarantine “out of an abundance of caution.”

According to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon, “Senator Harris was not in close contact, as defined by the CDC, with either of these individuals during the two days prior to their positive tests; as such, there is no requirement for quarantine.”

Harris echoed this announcement in a series of tweets writing, “Late last night, I learned a non-staff flight crew member & a member of my team tested positive for COVID. I wasn’t in close contact—as defined by the CDC—with either during the 2 days prior to their positive tests. I’ve had 2 negative tests this week & am not showing symptoms.”

She continued, “Both the crew member…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

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pope born cathedral consecrated Arminius dies

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pope born cathedral consecrated Arminius dies

By Michael Gryboski, Christian Post Reporter Follow
Chartres Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Chartres, France. | Wikimedia Commons/Olvr

Christianity is a faith with a long and extensive history, with numerous events of lasting significance occurring throughout the ages.

Each week brings the anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, births, deaths, and everything else in between.

Some of the things drawn from over 2 millennia of history might be very familiar to the reader, while other happenings might be previously unknown.

Here are three things that happened this week, Oct. 18-24, in Church history. They include the birth of Pope Pius II, the consecration of a notable cathedral, and the death of a prominent theologian.

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Claire Saffitz Bakes for Breakfast, Dinner, and Dessert

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Claire Saffitz Bakes for Breakfast, Dinner, and Dessert

The internet’s favorite baker shows us how to improvise with confidence.

The post Claire Saffitz Bakes for Breakfast, Dinner, and Dessert appeared first on TASTE.

Free speech demonstrators attacked in San Francisco: Three urgent problems and three biblical responses

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Free speech demonstrators attacked in San Francisco: Three urgent problems and three biblical responses

Philip Anderson shows the damage to his teeth after he was punched by an alt-left protestor from Antifa during the “Free Speech Rally” at the San Francisco Civic Center, on October 17, 2020 in San Francisco, California. Photo: Chris Tuite/ImageSPACE/Sipa USA(Sipa via AP Images)

A free speech demonstration staged by conservatives in San Francisco on Saturday was attacked by several hundred counterprotesters. An Associated Press photographer witnessed a Trump supporter being taken away in an ambulance.

When demonstrators threw glass bottles and plastic water bottles over police barricades at the group, the event was canceled. The event’s organizer posted photos of his bloody mouth with a front tooth missing and another hanging loosely. The San Francisco Police Department said three officers were assaulted with pepper spray and caustic chemicals; one was taken to a local hospital for treatment. 

In other news, Twitter and Facebook blocked users last week from sharing a New York Post article making damaging claims about Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s son. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said his company had been wrong to block the links, but Twitter still refuses to unlock the Post‘s account unless it deletes posts about its reporting on this issue. 

Freedom of speech and trust in the media are more threatened today than any time in my lifetime. Three issues are at work here, each of which is enormously significant for all Americans. 

One: Media bias 

An exhaustive new survey by Gallup and the Knight Foundation found “deepening pessimism and further partisan entrenchment about how the news media delivers on its democratic mandate for factual, trustworthy information.” They note that 86 percent of Americans see political bias in news coverage. According to 73 percent of us, this lack of objectivity is a “major problem” in our society. 

Here is where the survey…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Lauren Daigle Wins Billboard's Top Christian Artist Award

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Lauren Daigle Wins Billboard's Top Christian Artist Award

On Wednesday, Lauren Daigle won Billboard’s Top Christian Artist award.

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James MacDonald wants name cleared after $1.45M HBC settlement

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James MacDonald wants name cleared after $1.45M HBC settlement

By Leonardo Blair, Christian Post Reporter Twitter Follow
James MacDonald, former pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, speaks at the Pastors’ Conference 2014, ahead of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting, on Monday, June 9, 2014, in Baltimore, Md. | (Photo: The Christian Post/Sonny Hong)

James MacDonald, founder of Harvest Bible Chapel, called on the megachurch Thursday to end its “false narrative in financial matters” against him, a day after elders disclosed details of an arbitration settlement awarding him at least $1.45 million in cash, an undisclosed amount in deferred compensation, and assets of his Walk in the Word broadcast ministry, including real estate.

“Now that we are ‘post arbitration,’ we’re praying that HBC leaders would be entirely forthcoming with the church we loved for so long. (We would welcome publication of the entire arbitration transcript.) Please pray for the needed transparency,” MacDonald and his wife, Kathy, wrote in an extended statement posted on their ministry website.

MacDonald, who was ousted from HBC on Feb. 12, 2019, after making “highly inappropriate recorded comments” on a radio program as well as “other conduct” under a cloud of allegations of financial abuse and bullying, said…

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