Latest news with #CSLewis
Times
3 days ago
- General
- Times
Dated? CS Lewis's Christian clarity is as relevant as ever
A hundred years ago Clive Staples Lewis, known to his friends as Jack, was elected a fellow and tutor in English language and literature at Magdalen College, Oxford. It would be his academic home for the next 29 years, a period when he became a Christian and produced most of his best-known works. The author of the Narnia stories, Miracles, Till We have Faces, Surprised by Joy and so many others lived close by his college, attended its chapel, made Oxford and its pubs and walks his home, but was never fully embraced by the university. It's one of the reasons he'd leave for Magdalene College, Cambridge, in 1954 and be extremely happy there. Part of the cause for Oxford's qualified reception, then and now, was Lewis's Christian faith, and also the fact that he was commercially and publicly successful. There were far more Christians on the teaching staff at Cambridge and they were excited rather than embarrassed by Lewis, the popular apologist.
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast's EastSide Arts Festival is underway – here's what you need to know
Music, comedy, theatre, literature and visual arts events are all happening right now The annual EastSide Arts Festival is underway until August 2, featuring more than 60 events across 10 days of music, workshops, comedy, walks, theatre, literature and visual arts. East Belfast is home to many unique spaces and places which will host a range of festival events, so we're shining a spotlight on some of them and what festival-goers can look forward to. CS Lewis Square opened in 2016, giving life to inner East Belfast with this unique outdoor space. Surrounded by statues of the magical characters of Narnia, the square is a celebration of east Belfast-born writer and theologian CS Lewis.
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Prof. Schlevogt's Compass No. 20: The Political Pity Equation – Who deserves our tears?
As C.S. Lewis famously observed, 'Pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world' – a stark reminder that suffering is often the loudest call for change we cannot afford to forego. Yet, curiously, the world community seems to clearly hear God's voice from Ukraine, but not from Gaza and Russia. So why does the suffering of Ukrainians tend to stir deeper sorrow and elicit stronger support than the plight of Palestinians and Russians? An ancient source reveals the hidden, mutually reinforcing factors controlling our empathy - and the tools for leaders to kindle or suppress pity to their advantage. In Rhetoric, a foundational text of Western oratory, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle argued that emotions - states of pleasure or pain - shape judgment and action. Grouped under pathos, they are powerful tools of persuasion, alongside ethos (moral credibility) and logos (logical reasoning based on facts). Aristotle's Poetics - a landmark study of dramatic art, laying the groundwork for storytelling to this day - explains how well-crafted, compelling tragedy evokes pity (eleos) and fear (phobos) to bring about catharsis, an emotional cleansing. The ancient master of political and dramatic psychology understood pity, the emotional counterpoint to indignation and envy, not as mere sentimentality, but as pain at another's undeserved misfortune. Pity is not just about what happens, but how it is framed. This emotion, then, is highly conditional, shaped by a fragile, malleable calculus of perception. Essentially, it hinges on five interwoven, finely balanced factors in the right measure, operating in a dynamic system. From the timeless insights of Aristotle's Rhetoric and Poetics - as well as the blood-stained wisdom of Attic tragedy itself - we can distill the following key drivers of pity (P): the suffering is undeserved (U), comes as a surprise (S), is grave (G), is inflicted on those who, to some extent, resemble us (R), and unfolds close enough to cast a shadow on our own fate (C). Together, these factors form a strikingly apt model for dissecting how political actors weaponize pity for the purpose of political persuasion. This, then, is what I call the 'Political Pity Equation' (PPE) – or, in its more specific form, the 'Public Pity Equation' – a robust heuristic for understanding how pity is manufactured and how it can be strategically shaped in the information war: P = U + S + G + R + C. This capstone formula for the politics of selective pity is as potent as it is pliable, because each driver can be dialed up or down to sculpt public sympathy with unerring finesse. Information warriors across different arenas routinely manipulate these factors to calibrate pity, crafting emotionally compelling narratives and eliciting strong emotional responses that serve shifting political agendas. This versatility makes the 'Political Pity Equation' an exceptionally powerful instrument of influence and control. To illustrate strategic pity calibration: Whenever the leaders of the collective West judged that Israel had reached a critical milestone in what German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, albeit with reference to Iran, termed its 'dirty work,' they deliberately amplified pity for the long-neglected, suffering Palestinian people. Critics may argue that such emotional pivots serve not to correct injustice, but to manage perceptions: a tactical show with a controlled release of empathy by both leaders and audiences designed to contain mounting backlash, without altering the underlying staunchly pro-Israeli policy. Perhaps such maneuvers are designed especially to ease tensions among sizeable Muslim populations at home, a large and politically influential voter base. The gesture may also seek to project – however belatedly and transparently hollow – an image of the West as the moral arbiter, towering above its own double standards: a last-ditch strategic gambit aimed at preserving and bolstering its acutely imperiled soft power on the world stage. In an age where pity has predominantly morphed into a calculated outcome in the brutal arena of global information warfare - crafted by political high-technology and choreographed with algorithmic precision - grasping the logic of the PPE is nothing short of essential. Let us, therefore, unpack the five key triggers of pity, one by one. Misfortune judged undeserved – especially perceived injustice – is often the very spark that ignites pity, striking a deep emotional chord. An innocent man behind bars stirs immediate sorrow for the fate he endures. Pity surged worldwide in 2020 when protests erupted over a searing symbol of suffering caused by a police force accused of brutal abuse of power: George Floyd, a black man, pinned beneath a Minneapolis officer's knee, gasping the haunting words, 'I can't breathe.' The harrowing footage of this incident spread like wildfire, fueling outrage and solidarity around the world. As a striking example of perception eclipsing truth, intense public pity overshadowed the fact that Floyd – a repeat violent offender – was lawfully restrained as a suspect, spoke for over nine minutes despite claiming he could not draw air, and was pronounced dead not on the street corner memorialized as a murder scene or in the ambulance, but later at the hospital. Nevertheless, his death galvanized mass outcry, demands to abolish the police, and riots causing over $1 billion in damage. In contrast to the passionate reaction provoked by seemingly undeserved ordeals, a toppled tyrant awakens no pity – only the cold satisfaction of justice served. When Rumanian president Nicolae Ceaușescu was executed by firing squad in 1989, the crowd erupted – not in grief, but in relief. An unexpected, sudden reversal – one of the key ingredients making a plot truly tragic and emotionally gripping – evokes pity, too. A classic example of such peripeteia reinforced by anagnorisis (recognition) in Greek drama is King Oedipus' sudden harrowing discovery that he had unknowingly killed his father and married his mother. This unexpected realization triggered a cascade of horror: self-blinding, disgrace, and exile. If, in contrast to such gut-wrenching surprise, pain arises as a slow, natural consequence of the victim's own choices – lung disease from years of smoking or financial ruin from reckless gambling – pity is minimal or entirely withheld. There is no catharsis, that sudden cleansing flood of emotion stirred by shocking suffering, in the predictable. Pity needs pain – but in the right dose. If harm is too minor, it barely touches us. Yet the moment misfortune becomes total and irreversible – death, annihilation – hope evaporates: There is no one left to save, no outcome yet to change. What fills the void then is not pity, but dread, awe, or numb detachment – a stark reminder of pity's fickle nature, easily giving way to entirely different emotions. Tellingly, in much Christian art and devotion, Jesus' suffering on the cross evokes pity before his death; once dead, the emotion shifts to reverence or awe. We empathize with the wounded warrior crying out in anguish, not someone who died instantly. Hector's agonizing death at Achilles' hands moves us deeply. So does the haunting image of the terrified Vietnamese girl Phan Thị Kim Phúc fleeing after a napalm strike by a U.S. ally in 1972 – her humanized suffering ignited global outrage. By contrast, the quiet toll of civilian deaths from Israeli and American strikes on Iran in 2025 barely registers. We are wired to care more about those who resemble us. Whenever victims feels socially or morally relatable – sharing our values, struggles, or life trajectory – their pain hits closer to home, because deep down, we recognize ourselves in them. The suffering becomes not just theirs, but potentially ours. Consider Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani girl shot in 2012 ostensibly for what millions of children worldwide embrace as a routine: going to school. That haunting familiarity made her story evoke instant, global pity. But this emotion is the product of a delicate alchemy: Too little similarity, and the connection falters; too much, and the emotional distance required for compassion collapses into defensiveness or other inner states. Pity thrives on proximity – we are most moved when suffering is vivid, recent, or nearby. Predictably, pity dies at the extremes: if the suffering is too close, this emotion turns into fear; too far, and it fades into indifference. Only at moderate proximity does pity truly take hold. The grim photo of Alan Kurdi, the two-year-old Syrian refugee boy who drowned in 2015 seeking safety, perfectly captured this fragile middle ground: close enough in innocence to spark global pity for the living refugees he came to represent, yet distant enough in place, context, and risk to spare viewers the paralyzing fear of personal danger. The examples above offer a glimpse of how particular catch-all propaganda objects wield power across nearly all contexts. Functioning as emotional master keys, their potency lies, most notably, in their ability to activate multiple enablers of pity at once, making them remarkably resilient and versatile tools of influence and control. Their impact intensifies when the information strategy forges a tight link between the object and the specific context of suffering. Tragically, few tools of emotional manipulation rival the suffering child, an image that concentrates a broad spectrum of pity triggers into a single, devastating symbol. Close behind: the suffering woman. Crucially, the child serves as the propaganda world's nuclear option, which simply cannot be ignored: universally potent, overwhelming in its emotional impact, nearly impossible to counter, and devastatingly effective across contexts. The child's innocence and vulnerability render its pain fundamentally unjust. Where one expects laughter and light, there is instead darkness, and that dissonance comes as a jolt. A child's suffering does not remain abstract; it reflects the observers' own children, or the ones they cherish, pulling the pain startlingly close – feeling intimate, immediate, almost within reach. This child-centered tactic of provoking pity is instantly recognizable from the classic appeals of aid organizations: haunting shots of emaciated boys and girls, eyes wide with hunger, meticulously crafted to pierce even the most calloused conscience – and pry open the wallet So much for theory; let us turn to its application. Tellingly, the five enablers outlined above prove invaluable for dissecting the selective pity evoked in three theaters of information war: Ukraine, Gaza, and Russia. [Part 1 of a trilogy on the politics of selective pity. To be continued.]
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast's EastSide Arts Festival is underway and here's what you need to know
Music, comedy, theatre, literature and visual arts events are all happening right now The annual EastSide Arts Festival is underway until August 2, featuring more than 60 events across 10 days of music, workshops, comedy, walks, theatre, literature and visual arts. East Belfast is home to many unique spaces and places which will host a range of festival events, so we're shining a spotlight on some of them and what festival-goers can look forward to. CS Lewis Square opened in 2016, giving life to inner East Belfast with this unique outdoor space. Surrounded by statues of the magical characters of Narnia, the square is a celebration of east Belfast-born writer and theologian CS Lewis.
Associated Press
19-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
'Retired But Ready' Debuts as the Go-To Digital Space for Retirees Seeking Purpose, Connection, and Growth
Retired But Ready (RBR) is an online network where retirees connect, share expertise, find jobs, join groups, and earn RetCoins for active engagement. 'You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.'— C. S. Lewis HONG KONG, July 19, 2025 / / -- Retired But Ready (RBR), a pioneering online community, announces its official launch, offering a vibrant digital space exclusively for platform is designed to empower individuals who have concluded their primary careers but remain eager to stay socially connected, share knowledge, and pursue continued personal and professional growth. By focusing solely on retirees' unique needs and aspirations, RBR offers a supportive ecosystem that fosters engagement, learning, and meaningful interaction. A New Era for Retirees RBR distinguishes itself from mainstream social platforms by focusing solely on the needs and aspirations of retirees. Through personalized profiles, global networking, and specialized groups, RBR creates a supportive ecosystem tailored to those who have concluded their primary careers but remain eager to engage, learn, and contribute. Mission Highlights: - Facilitating the sharing of life experiences and professional insights. - Fostering networking among retirees worldwide. - Promoting lifelong learning and skill development. - Providing access to curated part-time and full-time job opportunities. - Hosting webinars and workshops on a wide range of topics. - Rewarding engagement through a unique digital currency called RetCoins, which members can redeem in an exclusive online marketplace, Membership is free, ensuring accessibility for retirees everywhere who wish to remain socially connected and intellectually active. Key Features and Benefits 1. Exclusive Networking for Retirees RBR offers a unique space for 'RetPros'—retired professionals from fields such as engineering, medicine, law, aviation, business, and more. The platform's intelligent algorithm recommends connections and groups based on users' backgrounds and interests, fostering meaningful interactions and combating social isolation, a common challenge among seniors. 2. Knowledge Sharing Groups Members can join diverse knowledge-sharing communities focused on topics like finance, health, arts, and technology. These forums facilitate the exchange of ideas, mentoring, and collaborative learning, allowing retirees to both impart and gain valuable knowledge. 3. Tailored Job Opportunities Understanding that many retirees wish to remain professionally active or supplement their income, RBR features job listings curated specifically for RetPros. These include consulting roles, part-time jobs, and flexible full-time positions, with companies able to post directly to the platform. 4. Webinars and Skill Development RBR will soon launch online webinars and workshops covering a broad spectrum of interests—banking, law, yoga, meditation, and more. These initiatives provide continuous learning opportunities, helping retirees stay mentally sharp and engaged. 5. RetCoins: A Digital Currency To reward participation and foster community engagement, RBR introduces RetCoins. Members earn RetCoins through platform activities and can use them to shop for exclusive products on creating a dynamic internal economy that incentivizes active involvement. 6. Integration with JunPro RBR is developing JunPro, a sister platform for individuals aged 25 to 50. This extension will enable intergenerational collaboration, knowledge exchange, and job opportunities, broadening the ecosystem's impact. Addressing Critical Needs in Today's World Combating Social Isolation Loneliness among seniors is a growing concern, often linked to adverse health outcomes. RBR addresses this by fostering genuine social connections, enabling members to form friendships, share experiences, and feel part of a supportive community. Leveraging Decades of Expertise RetPros possess invaluable experience. RBR facilitates the transfer of this expertise to younger generations and peers through mentoring, discussions, and job opportunities, benefiting individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. Promoting Lifelong Learning and Economic Empowerment RBR encourages continuous learning through its educational offerings, supporting cognitive health and personal fulfillment. By connecting retirees with job opportunities and enabling them to monetize their skills, RBR also promotes financial independence and security. To join the RBR community: Create a Profile: Register at highlighting your interests and background. Join Groups: Explore and participate in knowledge-sharing groups. Connect Globally: Network with RetPros worldwide. Explore Jobs: Find roles that fit your skills and lifestyle. Participate in Webinars: Engage in upcoming skill development sessions. Earn & Use RetCoins: Shop in the platform's marketplace with earned RetCoins. Looking Ahead: Vision for the Future RBR envisions expanding its offerings with more online courses, enhanced job creation through partnerships, a robust RetCoins economy, and stronger intergenerational bridges via collaborative projects and mentorship. This forward-thinking approach positions RBR as a global leader in empowering retirees to live purposeful, connected, and impactful lives. For more information or to become a member, visit Pardeshi Gaurav A Adesiflava Pvt Ltd. +852 9543 3660 [email protected] Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
