Should anyone ever decide to make a show called "CSI: Geology," a group of scientists studying a mysterious and rapidly inflating South American volcano have got the perfect storyline.
Researchers from several universities are essentially working as geological detectives, using a suite of tools to piece together the restive peak's past in order to understand what it is doing now, and better diagnose what may lie ahead.
It's a mystery they've yet to solve.
Uturuncu is a nearly 20,000-foot-high (6,000 meters) volcano in southwest Bolivia. Scientists recently discovered the volcano is inflating with astonishing speed.
"I call this 'volcano forensics,' because we're using so many different techniques to understand this phenomenon," said Oregon State University professor Shan de Silva, a volcanologist on the research team. [See images of the inflating volcano here.]
Researchers realized about five years ago that the area below and around Uturuncu is steadily rising — blowing up like a giant balloon under a wide disc of land some 43 miles (70 kilometers) across. Satellite data revealed the region was inflating by 1 to 2 centimeters (less than an inch) per year and had been doing so for at least 20 years, when satellite observations began.
"It's one of the fastest uplifting volcanic areas on Earth," de Silva told OurAmazingPlanet."What we're trying to do is understand why there is this rapid inflation, and from there we'll try to understand what it's going to lead to."
The peak is perched like a party hat at the center of the inflating area. "It's very circular. It's like a big bull's-eye," said Jonathan Perkins, a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who recently presented work on the mountain at this year's Geological Society of America meeting in Minneapolis.
Scientists figured out from the inflation rate that the pocket of magma beneath the volcano was growing by about 27 cubic feet (1 cubic meter) per second.
"That's about 10 times faster than the standard rate of magma chamber growth you see for large volcanic systems," Perkins told OurAmazingPlanet.
However, no need to flee just yet, the scientists said.
"It's not a volcano that we think is going to erupt at any moment, but it certainly is interesting, because the area was thought to be essentially dead," de Silva said.
41He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
42He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
Ikeda's Buddhist-inspired believes that a profound inner reformation not only enables a person to successfully form creative and constructive responses to the harsh realities of everyday life, but also enables him or her to lead contributive lives in the service of other people, is a theme that is central to all his writings.
The year was 1893. The place was Chicago. Buddhists had arrived from the East to attend the inaugural World’s Parliament of Religions. While their contingent was sizable, they were vastly outnumbered by Bible believers from the West. One hundred years later, at the centennial celebration of the original Parliament, Buddhists outnumbered Baptists and saffron robes were more common than Christian clerical clothing. Given its growing impact, it is important to grasp basic Buddhist beliefs and use them as springboards for sharing the liberating truth of the gospel.Check out the following as well on the parallels between Buddhism and Christianity.
First, Buddhism, a historical offshoot of Hinduism, teaches adherents to seek refuge in the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Embracing the triple gem is to find refuge in Buddha who became the “enlightened one” for this age during a deep state of meditation under a bodhi tree; to find refuge in the Buddha’s teaching—dharma; and to find refuge in the community of Buddhist priests—sangha—who guide devotees along the path to enlightenment.
Furthermore, the essence of Buddhism is summed up in the Four Noble Truths: 1) all life is suffering (dukkha); 2) the source of suffering is desire and attachment because all is impermanent; 3) liberation from suffering is found in the elimination of desire; 4) desire is eliminated by following the eightfold path.
In sharp contrast to the Buddhist teaching that we must eliminate desire, the Bible teaches that we must exercise disciplines in order to transform our desires.
Finally, the eightfold path consists of right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right awareness, and right meditation. By following this path through many reincarnations, Buddhists hope to erase karmic debt and achieve the nirvanic realization of “no self,” thus attaining liberation from suffering and escaping the endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth (samsara).
In sharp contrast to the Buddhist teaching that we must eliminate desire, the Bible teaches that we must exercise disciplines in order to transform our desires (Romans 6:17–19). Ultimately, suffering is not overcome through stamping out the self, but through the selfless sacrifice of a sinless Savior.
| Parallel Beginnings | |
|---|---|
| God | the Unconditioned |
| Heaven | Nirvana |
| Jesus (Yeshua of Nazareth) |
Gautama (Siddartha Gautama) |
| Jewish founder of Christianity | Hindu founder of Buddhism |
| virgin birth account | virgin birth account |
| tempted by Satan | tempted by Mara |
| Good News of the Kingdom of God | the Dharma (law) of Liberation |
| Sermon on the Mount | Sermon of "Turning the Wheel of Dharma" |
| taught in parables | taught in parables |
| Feet kissed by Mary Magdalene | Feet kissed by Pasanedi |
| Betrayed by Judas | Betrayed by Devadatta |
| Crucified | possibly poisoned |
| Ascension | Parinirvana |
| the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ) | the Awakened One (Buddha, Enlightened) |
| Savior | Bodhisattva |
| Parallel developments | |
| the Church | the Sangha |
| Gospels | Sutras |
| Bible | Tripitaka, Prajna Paramita, and many other writings |
| Apostolic succession | Lineage of dharma transmission |
| Faith promoted 300 years later by Emperor Constantine | Faith promoted 300 years later by Emperor Ashoka |
| Church councils | Buddhist councils |
| missionaries | missionaries |
| monasteries | monasteries |
| After flourishing in the Middle East, now a minority religion in area of its birth | After flourishing in India, now a minority religion in area of its birth |
| Parallel Paths | |
| agape (spiritual love) | maitri (lovingkindness) |
| the world | samsara |
| Purification (Purgatory) | Rebirth (Reincarnation) |
| hell | hell realms |
| imago Dei (image of God) | Buddha-nature |
| Christ within you | Realizing your Buddha-nature |
| Theosis/Deification | Awakening, Enlightenment |
| the Way | the Dharma |
| chant | chant |
| prayer candles | prayer flags |
| saints | buddhas, bodhisattvas |
| angels | devas |
| demons | demons |
| relics | relics |
| Shroud of Turin | Buddha's Tooth |
| Four Spiritual Laws | Four Noble Truths |
| 10 Commandments | Eightfold Path |
| rosaries | rosaries (malas) |
| icons | icons (thangkas) |
| statues | statues |
| the "Jesus Prayer" | nembutsu |
| Sign of the Cross | Taking Refuge |
| contemplation | meditation |
| New Jerusalem | Western Paradise |
| sin | dukkha (unsatisfactoriness) |
| Parallel Schools??? | |
| Eastern Orthodoxy (teachings of the Church Fathers) |
Theravada (teachings of the Elders) |
| devotional Catholicism (saints, Heaven) |
Kwan Yin, Amitabha, Pure Land (enlightened beings, Paradise) |
|
Mysticism (direct experience of God) |
Zen (direct experience of the Ultimate) |
| Protestantism (Scripture and salvation) |
Nichiren, Pure Land (Scripture and salvation) |
|
Charismatic / Pentecostal (enthusiasm) |
Vajrayana (enthusiasm) |
The world's population looks set to smash through the seven billion barrier in the next few days, according to the United Nations.
It comes just 12 years since the total reached six billion - with official estimates saying the figure will top eight billion in 2025 and 10 billion before the end of the century.
And it is most likely the baby will be born in the Asia-Pacific region - where the population growth rate is higher than anywhere else in the world.
The movie delves into the stories of four law enforcement officers. The men, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller, are good at what they do, but they face a major challenge at home: Learning how to be good and active fathers. Here’s more of the synopsis from the movie’s official web site:
While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they’re quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.
When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God … and to their children?
This is the fourth film to come from the Albany, Georgia-based Sherwood Baptist Church. In 2006, the house of worship spent $10,000 making “Facing the Giants,” which grossed $10 million in the end. Another popular movie Sherwood produced, “Fireproof,” was $500,000 to create, though it grossed a large sum — $33 million. It appears “Courageous” is destined for success as well.
Over the weekend, “Courageous,” which was produced with only $2 million, premiered in fifth place among all movies. Already, the movie has earned $8.8 million, which is $2 million above the opening income earned by “Fireproof.” Entertainment Weekly writes:
Shown in 1,161 theaters (yet, notably, just one theater in Manhattan), Courageous earned the best per theater average of any wide release with a robust $7,580.Here’s the astounding part about all of this: The people making these films aren’t award-winning directors and producers. The church’s pastors, Alex Kendrick (who directs, co-writes and often stars) and Stephen Kendrick (who produces and co-writes) are the men behind the camera. And church members, too, perform and work in the crew. It’s fascinating that these individuals consistently churn out independent hits.
