Category Archives: Evolution

New Atheism is dead. It was conceptually dead from birth, but now its stopped twitching. Ben Sixsmith at Arc Digital has a good article with a lot of insight into its demise. From New Atheism: An Autopsy:

To be sure, New Atheists could be very, very bad at arguing that God does not exist. There was, for example, Lawrence Krauss writing a book about how something can come from nothing while attributing material qualities to the latter. There was Richard Dawkins trying to refute the famous Five Ways of Aquinas without even attempting to understand their terms. (Whereof one cannot speak, groaned Wittgenstein, Thereof one must remain silent.) There was Christopher Hitchens striding into philosophy like an elephant onto an ice skating rink and saying:

the postulate of a designer or creator only raises the unanswerable question of who designed the designer or created the creator.

Why is it unanswerable? People have certainly tried to answer it. Answers readily came centuries prior to Hitchens himself, actually. Hitchens is free to take issue with Aquinas distinction between contingent and necessary existence if he wants, but hes not free to suggest no answers have been offered. How does the concept of the necessary being, for example, fail? Hitchens offers no sign of knowing what it is, because that unanswerable is not a logical conclusion but a rhetorical sledgehammer swung at the readers skull.

I know atheists can make better arguments. But the New Atheists never felt obliged to, because they were so confident in their own rationality that they never learned about the ideas they were mocking. If challenged on their philosophical ignorance as the philosopher Alvin Plantinga brilliantly skewered Dawkins here on this very point they were liable to observe that the average Christian does not have the theological sophistication of an Edward Feser or a John Haldane. True enough. But if Im on the street and ask the average believer in evolution by natural selection to explain it and declare Darwin refuted because monkeys did not turn into men, am I being scientifically honest? No, not really.

The primary autopsy finding here is that New Atheism was born dead. It was an intellectually vacuous vanity project from the start. Its vanguard was a coterie of dullards and narcissists who glanced away from their own mirrors only long enough to beg book deals. The arguments they made in their books were the stuff of comedy acts everything came from nothing for no reason, the universe came from quantum mechanics, which is nothing, acknowledging an intelligent Creator is an impediment to science, but asserting meaningless existence is a boon to science, we are meat machines, and you should pay attention to what we say, there is no good or evil, and if you think there is, youre evil, there is no free will and you should change your mind and agree with me, there is no guilt because there is no free will, therefore livestock management, rather than justice, is best for mankind, things change and survivors survive is a scientific theory, survival of the fittest explains why Im sad your kid has cancer, without evolutionary theory, we wouldnt understand that bacteria arent killed by an antibiotic that doesnt kill them, gene duplication adds new genetic information, and plagiarism is not permitted in my class, kin selection explains altruism, except that bacteria in a clonal colony, which are identical twins, arent altruistic, evolutionary biology is indispensable to medicine, so we should start teaching it in medical schools, evolution is the cornerstone of physiology and medicine, and maybe someday an evolutionary biologist will win a Nobel Prize, information is not detectible in nature, except in my book about it, the selective breeding experiments I designed in my lab are excellent examples of mindless evolution, the First Amendment prohibits questioning a scientific theory in schools, let me show you how undirected natural selection works in a simulation on the computer program I wrote, intelligent design isnt science, and its scientifically wrong (my favorite these two assertions are commonly made in the same sentence), the mind is what the brain does, but Im not a dualist, my assertion that your mind can have no contact with truth is true. The list is bottomless.

New Atheism never had a chance. It was intellectual vapor, and its practitioners were repellent fools. They were defeated by atheisms perennial Achilles heal: they were forced to explain themselves. Atheism never reigns openly and explicitly for long; it cannot withstand even cursory scrutiny. Heck, it cant withstand the scrutiny of schoolchildren witness the panicked litigation to prevent schoolchildren from asking questions about its creation myth.

But rational moral theism will not easily emerge victorious from this little fight. Paganism, not atheism, is the natural religion of unreflective men. We worship, and creation is full of beauty and mystery and ravishing idols. Pride and lust of eyes and flesh reigns in our culture, and Asherah poles are popping up everywhere. The Valley of Hinnom is our altar of child sacrifice, and we tithe in penance for our sins against Gaia.

As New Atheism stops twitching, another beast a rougher beast is rolling the stone from its perennial crypt.

Photo credit:Josh Adams-FordviaUnsplash.

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New Atheism: A Shipwreck of Fools - Discovery Institute

The gig economy plays a major part for many international business operations. Companies have realized the benefits of hiring freelancers or project-based contractors to perform tasks for their businesses as it comes with more flexibility, lower liability and fewer costs than hiring full-time employees.

As the gig economy continues to grow, due to greater demand and technological advancements, its impact on the world of business is also increasing, with unprecedented opportunities for freelance workers and companies alike. Below, 12 members of Forbes Coaches Council delve into the ways that the gig economy may change in the coming year, and how it may impact the world of business moving forward.

Forbes Coaches Council members weigh in on how the gig economy will evolve in the new decade.

1. A Shifting Landscape Of Employee Loyalty

"To thine own self be true" has never been more true than in today's world of work. In fact, in the resume writing industry we held our first-ever career portfolio resume competition due to the enormity of the side-hustle, gig-focus taking place inclusive of executives. Companies will need to be able to entice candidates with flexibility and part-time benefits to have a chance at retention. - Laura DeCarlo, Career Directors International

2. Expansion As A Result Of Growing Demand

Aside from just the Ubers and Lyfts, companies seek more flexibility in managing their fixed labor costs, so they're often turning to contingent workforces as a way to manage the varying labor demands. This will not only increase their demand for temporary or "gig" workers, but also for service suppliers that are willing to provide functional support for roles previously handled by internal staff. - Scott Singer, Insider Career Strategies

3. A Conveyor Belt Of Options To Choose From

The gig economy will evolve to become a conveyor belt of options so employers and businesses are able to develop customized ways to better cater to customer needs. Small businesses will start using gig services to generate efficiencies and, gradually, this will create opportunities for larger organizations to learn from the way small businesses use gig services. - Faisal Khan, 1ExtraordinaryLife, LLC

4. The New Workforce Optimization Strategy

The gig economy will continue to broaden its definition from sporadic, opt-in labor to also include more specialized high-end expertise and consulting. Companies will more deeply focus on how to best optimize a mix of both permanent and on-demand talent to achieve their profit goals. Some firms have created leadership positions focused on this very thing. - Karan Rhodes, Shockingly Different Leadership

5. Pending Legislation's Potential Negative Impact

The gig economy is thriving and is now a vital element of business agility and innovation. Although it has some downsides, a majority of the impact of the gig economy is beneficial. New legislation (CA Assembly Bill 5 - AB5) aims to address some of the downsides, but could inadvertently shut down the gig economy in the biggest state economy in the U.S. This is a critical element to watch in 2020. - Jim Vaselopulos, Rafti Advisors, LLC

6. Business Necessity Clashing With Legal Compliance

The gig economy will continue to expand. In order to attract talent, organizations will have to hire people for "gigs." There is just one problem. The IRS rules regarding whether jobs require an exempt employee, non-exempt employee or contractor are decades old. The need to compete will clash with compliance requirements. Businesses will have to lobby the government to update their regulations. - Brad Federman, PerformancePoint LLC

7. Unprecedented Opportunities For Those In The Gig Economy

As business growth continues, those operating in the gig economy are looking at unprecedented opportunity. Low unemployment means companies are stretched to leverage more deeply their arsenal of service providers. Independent contractors can not only raise their prices, but also enjoy more consistent relationships with their clients that should hold out through future economic downward trends. - Laura Camacho, Mixonian Institute

8. Chaos As A Result Of More Growth And Disruption

In 2020, the gig economy would continue to experience rapid acceleration and evolution, changes that would demand flexibility and adaptability. In this VUCA 2.0 world, businesses have become nimble and selective with what they focus on. More growth will lead to more disruption and uncertainty, so it's incumbent upon businesses to embrace VUCA 2.0 as the new normal and adjust accordingly. - Dr. Flo Falayi, Hybrid Leaders, Inc

9. Higher Demand For Project-Based Contractors

In 2020, you will have more people working as contractors for companies of all sizes. This will affect business as they hire more remote project-based contractors and freelancers to get the work done instead of hiring full-time employees. This trend will become more popular with workers as it provides more opportunity for them to live the lifestyles they desire by providing flexible work schedules. - Katrina Brittingham, VentureReady LLC

10. Increased Flexibility As The New Benefit

The gig economy is gaining momentum as people are placing a higher value on acquiring experiences rather than material things. This can have a ripple effect on other businesses in both talent acquisition and retention. The need to offer flexible scheduling, remote work opportunities and work-life balance will become even more important in 2020 to maintain an engaged and committed workforce. - Shelley Hastings, Synergy Empowerment Coaching, LLC

11. Accelerated Onboarding And Engagement

If you're a business hiring more short-term or freelance workers, how do you get them quickly onboarded and engaged? After you clarify role expectations, take time to ask questions like, "How do you most like to work?" or "What can I do to help you produce your best work?" or "What would have you really engaged in your work here, and what could inadvertently decrease your engagement?" Show you care. - Dr. Joel M. Rothaizer, MCC, Clear Impact Consulting Group

12. The Traditional Worker Role Fading Even Quicker

As Generation Z begins to enter the workspace, the traditional worker as we "know it" will begin to fade even quicker. Gen Zs have grown up seeing their parents work multiple jobs, take on gigs and become entrepreneurs. The gig economy will no longer be a trend, but the norm. The impact on businesses will either make them more agile and innovative or they will find themselves in a world of hurt for workers. - Shelley Smith, Premier Rapport

Link:

12 Ways The Gig Economy May Evolve In 2020 And How It Will Impact The Business World - Forbes

Sickly or Super?

Efforts to control urban rat populations rarely if ever result in the complete eradication of the pests. Most of the time, the goal is to simply reduce rodent numbers enough to minimize the spread of disease or damage to property.

But according to Jonathan Richardson, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Richmond, letting some rats slip through the cracks can cause a local population to swiftly evolve, leading to either of two long-term outcomes: sickly rats or super ones.

In June, the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution published a study in which Richardson and his colleagues analyzed the genes of rats in Salvador, Brazil, before and after the city launched a 2015 eradication campaign that ultimately cut the population in half.

They found that the campaign eliminated 90 percent of the genetic variation in the rats, meaning the rats that remained were far more alike genetically than the population as a whole prior to the campaign.

In a newly published Conversation post, Richardson explained how that could impact the future rat population in two distinct ways.

On the one hand, because the rats lack genetic variance, they could produce offspring that are more sickly, the same way inbreeding in people can cause health problems.

But on the other, if the rats who survived the campaign did so because they were the fittest, they could pass along whatever made them fit to future generations leading to a population of super rats that are even harder to kill.

READ MORE: Super rats or sickly rodents? Our war against urban rats could be leading to swift evolutionary changes [The Conversation]

More on rats: Scientists Taught Rats How to Drive Tiny Cars

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Our Attempts to Kill Rats Are Making Them Evolve at Super Speed - Futurism

Ozuna has done it again. For the third consecutive year, he debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums, this time, with his new album Nibiru.

Andon this weeks episode of Billboards The Latin Factor podcast, Ozuna talks about his three albums in interviews conducted in 2017, 2018 and 2019, at the time he released Odisea, Aura and Nibiru, respectively.

"Nibiru is something very difficult to explain because it is different," the singer says at the beginning of the podcast, which stops and goes back to his first interview with Billboard.

At that time, Ozuna used to write songs at any time. Honestly --any time, anywhere. The album described his history, his essence.

A year later, Aura arrived and established him as an urban artist.The set was born because his fans asked for a lot of music. Back then, Ozuna realized that he was famous. "You can't do many things you did before, go to the disco, go out with your children."

In November, Billboard met again with Ozuna, this timeto talk about Nibiru, which, according to the artist, is "a concept that was developed with time to find different producers and artists."

Listen to the Ozuna's 2017, 2018 and2019 interviews in the podcast below, and check out his musical evolution on Billboard.

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From 'Odisea' to 'Nibiru': Ozuna's Album Evolution, In His Own Words - Billboard

There are times when you sit back and watch Christian Wood and wonder, How in the hell did he get to Detroit? Thats not a knock on the Pistons. Not at all. Its a question that comes up regularly because the 24-year-old Wood has all the talent in the world, yet hes playing for his fifth NBA organization, officially, since going undrafted out of UNLV in 2015.

At 6-foot-10, hes the type of modern-day big man NBA teams drool over. His pterodactyl build allows him to use his arms as windshield wipers defensively. His offensive skills range from rim-bending slams over multiple defenders to a soft touch that extends beyond 23 feet. Woods handle and ability to take defenders off the dribble is like a high school point guard who had a significant growth spurt his senior year.

In the basketball world, Detroit got Wood for essentially nothing this offseason. Hes making the veteran minimum. Its a small price to pay...

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The evolution of Christian Wood - The Athletic

(MENAFN - The Conversation) Despite creative efforts to tackle it, belief in conspiracy theories , alternative facts and fake news show no sign of abating . This is clearly a huge problem, as seen when it comes to climate change , vaccines and expertise in general with anti-scientific attitudes increasingly influencing politics .

So why can't we stop such views from spreading? My opinion is that we have failed to understand their root causes, often assuming it is down to ignorance . But new research, published in my book, Knowledge Resistance: How We Avoid Insight from Others , shows that the capacity to ignore valid facts has most likely had adaptive value throughout human evolution. Therefore, this capacity is in our genes today. Ultimately, realising this is our best bet to tackle the problem.

So far, public intellectuals have roughly made two core arguments about our post-truth world. The physician Hans Rosling and the psychologist Steven Pinker argue it has come about due to deficits in facts and reasoned thinking and can therefore be sufficiently tackled with education.

Meanwhile, Nobel Prize winner Richard Thaler and other behavioural economists have shown how the mere provision of more and better facts often lead already polarised groups to become even more polarised in their beliefs.

The conclusion of Thaler is that humans are deeply irrational, operating with harmful biases. The best way to tackle it is therefore nudging tricking our irrational brains for instance by changing measles vaccination from an opt-in to a less burdensome opt-out choice.

Such arguments have often resonated well with frustrated climate scientists, public health experts and agri-scientists (complaining about GMO-opposers). Still, their solutions clearly remain insufficient for dealing with a fact-resisting, polarised society.

In my comprehensive study, I interviewed numerous eminent academics at the University of Oxford, London School of Economics and King's College London, about their views. They were experts on social, economic and evolutionary sciences. I analysed their comments in the context of the latest findings on topics raging from the origin of humanity, climate change and vaccination to religion and gender differences.

I discovered that much of knowledge resistance is better understood as a manifestation of social rationality. Essentially, humans are social animals; fitting into a group is what's most important to us. Often, objective knowledge-seeking can help strengthen group bonding such as when you prepare a well-researched action plan for your colleagues at work.

But when knowledge and group bonding don't converge, we often prioritise fitting in over pursuing the most valid knowledge. In one large experiment, it turned out that both liberals and conservatives actively avoided having conversations with people of the other side on issues of drug policy, death penalty and gun ownership. This was the case even when they were offered a chance of winning money if they discussed with the other group. Avoiding the insights from opposing groups helped people dodge having to criticise the view of their own community.

Similarly, if your community strongly opposes what an overwhelming part of science concludes about vaccination or climate change, you often unconsciously prioritise avoiding getting into conflicts about it.

This is further backed up by research showing that the climate deniers who score the highest on scientific literacy tests are more confident than the average in that group that climate change isn't happening despite the evidence showing this is the case. And those among the climate concerned who score the highest on the same tests are more confident than the average in that group that climate change is happening.

This logic of prioritising the means that get us accepted and secured in a group we respect is deep. Those among the earliest humans who weren't prepared to share the beliefs of their community ran the risk of being distrusted and even excluded.

And social exclusion was an enormous increased threat against survival making them vulnerable to being killed by other groups, animals or by having no one to cooperate with. These early humans therefore had much lower chances of reproducing. It therefore seems fair to conclude that being prepared to resist knowledge and facts is an evolutionary, genetic adaptation of humans to the socially challenging life in hunter-gatherer societies.

Today, we are part of many groups and internet networks, to be sure, and can in some sense 'shop around' for new alliances if our old groups don't like us. Still, humanity today shares the same binary mindset and strong drive to avoid being socially excluded as our ancestors who only knew about a few groups. The groups we are part of also help shape our identity, which can make it hard to change groups. Individuals who change groups and opinions constantly may also be less trusted, even among their new peers.

In my research, I show how this matters when it comes to dealing with fact resistance. Ultimately, we need to take social aspects into account. This could be through using role models, new ways of framing problems, new rules and routines in our organisations and new types of scientific narratives that resonate with the intuitions and interests of more groups than our own.

There are no quick fixes, of course. But if climate change were reframed from the liberal/leftist moral perspective of the need for global fairness to conservative perspectives of respect for the authority of the father land, the sacredness of God's creation and the individual's right not to have their life project jeopardised by climate change, this might resonate better with conservatives.

If we take social factors into account, this would help us create new and more powerful ways to fight belief in conspiracy theories and fake news. I hope my approach will stimulate joint efforts of moving beyond disputes disguised as controversies over facts and into conversations about what often matters more deeply to us as social beings.

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Conspiracy theories: how belief is rooted in evolution not ignorance - MENAFN.COM

The U.S. has a long history of identity-focused media outlets. Telemundo is one of the most established, serving Hispanic audiences. Among the newest is the Black News Channel, which launches Jan. 6 in an estimate of 33 million homes.

In Bloomington-Normal, there is WXRJ 94.9 FM.

Launched in 2007 by the Black Business Alliance, the noncommercial radio station provides R&B, smooth jazz, hip-hop, and more, serving as a go-to outlet for urban adult contemporary music.The station is based at 1116 E. Lafayette St. on Bloomingtons southeast side.

Operations manager Aaron Sullivan and music programming director Gil Chinnery said WXRJ was created to fill a major need in Bloomington-Normals media market.

There were enough outlets in the market that provided for the majority community, but none for the minority. We saw that there was no outlet for black music, Sullivan said. That was the major need, so it was the direction we took.

"We saw that there was no outlet for black music."

With a mission to educate, inform, and inspire, the station also offers programs to encourage entrepreneurship and keep listeners informed about local news. One program, Dollars and Sense, airs Mondays at 6 p.m. and provides financial advice and education on money management, supported by CEFCU.

While starting the station was the first step, Sullivan said running a successful business as a person of color has its hardships.

Its hard because theres a lot of competition and since we (the black community) as a people are so used to being assimilated into other cultures, being able to concentrate and say, Im gonna buy black and support local minority businesses, you have to put that into peoples mindset and actually get them to do it, he said.

Getting the business off the ground and sustaining it is yet another challenge.

I think thats the biggest downfall, Chinnery said. Its a lot more difficult to get enough funding to be able to do the forecasting and risk-taking that a lot of other businesses are able to do because they have a lot of funding, and its much more difficult to get grants and loans. Its also been hard for us to get the major backing to be able to promote like we want to.

Comedian Sheryl Underwood, who runs her own nationally syndicated radio program and targets overlooked urban stations across the country, is part of the WXRJ schedule. She joined the station in February 2016 and airs weeknights from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Sullivan and Chinnery said they are grateful for Underwood's help in bringing exposure to the station.

Working with her and her team has been a good experience. What she has done is provided a way for smaller stations like us to be able to get a national named person, Sullivan said. If you get other people there's a lot of money involved, you have to run commercials, and since we're a noncommercial station it kind of limits us to the people that we can put on the air.

Chinnery agreed.

Not only that but shes gone to different markets like Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and a lot of smaller radio stations to help them out by providing an on-air personality, as well as current topics," he said. "With her we get the current topics, news and views, and a little bit of entertainment as well. It's very helpful for us to provide her and her medium.

Representation is important to the two. Sullivan said WXRJs founding was essential to show minorities that they are able to become successful in the industry too.

If you see someone like you, you're going to be more apt to respond to that person like you, he said. I believe hiring more people of color for this industry will inspire those in the next generation to pursue it as well.

As Bloomington-Normals media market evolves, Sullivan said the focus should be on diversity and targeting young listeners.

There needs to be a way to replenish minorities in the market, he said. Were going through a time where media is changing and our youth are utilizing the streaming services a lot more and missing out on what's really happening in everyday life. We need to somehow keep them informed with whatever medium that is actually working, and that's why local radio is important so they can stay abreast of those activities.

Taking a step towards retaining young audiences, Sullivan said the station plays music they can relate to.

We look at providing the music that teens hear. Some of the music that we play will not be played on the commercial stations in the market but is specifically geared towards that and we provide information about local events and happenings in the market, that is not being provided to them in the mass media, he said.

The station also plays some music from local artists.

We hope to continue being able to provide the music people want to hear on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week, be able to provide information on the air, and become a place that provides you a connection to the community, Sullivan said.

The Black Business Alliance of Bloomington-Normal is WXRJs parent organization. Its sister BBA organization in Peoria owns WPNV 106.3 FM in Peoria.

People like you value experienced, knowledgeable and award-winning journalism that covers meaningful stories in Bloomington-Normal. To support more stories and interviews like this one, please consider making a contribution.

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Bloomington Radio Station Operators On The Evolution Of Media And Reaching Underserved Communities - WGLT News

We expect that Evolution of Psychotherapy 2020 will be the most engaging educational experience yet.

MALVERN, Pa. (PRWEB) December 12, 2019

The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference, the official meeting of the Milton H. Erickson Foundation, today announced that an unparalleled lineup of faculty will headline its 35th anniversary meeting taking place December 9-13, 2020 in Anaheim, California.

Dubbed the Woodstock of Psychotherapy by TIME, the Evolution of Psychotherapy meeting is expected to attract 8,000 professionals including clinical and counseling psychologists, psychiatrists, marriage and family counselors, and others - with an agenda focused on strengthening clinical practice and highlighting the unifying principles that guide effective clinical work.

Along with the nearly 40 prominent faculty spearheading the 2020 agenda, confirmed keynote speakers include:

I am both honored and excited to announce our 2020 lineup , said Jeffrey K. Zeig, PhD, Founder and Director, The Milton H. Erickson Foundation. These individuals are brilliant clinicians, educators, and innovators and their participation solidifies this 35th gathering as a momentous opportunity through which to celebrate and examine 135 years of the history of psychotherapy, and advance the field into the future. We expect that Evolution of Psychotherapy 2020 will be the most engaging educational experience yet.

In addition to earning up to 50 CE/CME credits, participants of the multi-day educational event can expect to: engage in practice-oriented workshops and interactive sessions on depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, relationship problems, and more, while networking with thousands of their peers from across the globe.

Attendees can further maximize their learning experience through pre-conference sessions on December 8 and a post-conference on December 14.

Registration for the 35th anniversary meeting is now open. To register or learn more, visit evolutionofpsychotherapy.com.

For media inquiries, contact Kelly McCurdy at pr@hmpglobal.com.

About HMPHMP is the force behind Healthcare Made Practicaland is a multichannel leader in healthcare events and education, with a mission to improve patient care. The company produces accredited medical education events and clinically relevant, evidence-based content for the global healthcare community across a range of therapeutic areas. Its brands include Consultant360, the year-round, award-winning platform relied upon by primary care providers and other specialists; Psych Congress, the largest independent mental health meeting in the U.S.; EMS World Expo, North America's largest EMT and paramedic event; and the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), the largest wound care meeting in the world. For more information, visit hmpglobal.com.

About The Milton H. Erickson FoundationEstablished in 1979, the Milton H. Erickson Foundation is a federal nonprofit corporation formed to promote and advance the contributions to the health sciences by the late Milton H. Erickson, MD. It has grown to become one of the most globally recognized and influential organizations in the field of psychotherapy and fulfills its mission through the organization of congresses, workshops, programs, and the development of clinically relevant content for mental health professionals. For more information, visit erickson-foundation.org.

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Evolution of Psychotherapy Announces Powerful Speaker Lineup for 35th Anniversary Conference - PR Web

Ian Harris looks back on 16 years of columns in the Otago Daily Times and commends the role of faith, properly understood, in our secular world.

It's fascinating to be living at a time when Christianity is going through one of its most creative phases. Or rather should be, because thats not happening everywhere, nor evenly, and as with every major shift in the churchs evolution, theres plenty of resistance along the way.

But for those with eyes to see, new doors are opening, new insights into the Bible are superseding understandings that once seemed chiselled in stone, and new interpretations of the Christian faith tradition are emerging that are fully in sync with our secular world.

These are the areas which this column has been exploring over the past 16 years, and the Otago Daily Times has made a signal contribution by allowing readers a glimpse of this revitalising process through its Faith and Reason feature.

The column has a shorter prehistory. It began in 2001 when a former editor of Wellingtons Dominion newspaper rode a hunch that there was a continuing interest in religious ideas, despite a deep-seated hostility to religion in the New Zealand media generally.

When I took it on, I knew it would draw flak from sections of the churches and atheists alike. It did, and when the Dominion and Evening Post merged in 2002, the new editor axed the column only to reinstate it a fortnight later following a surge of protest from readers.

Another editor wielded the axe again in 2009. She admitted receiving a mailbag of protest letters, which she duly ignored. But the response confirmed for me that the first editors hunch was right: despite the decline in church attendance, theres a continuing interest in issues of religion and spirituality.

At the outset, I devised some guidelines.

The target readership would be people who were not linked with any church, but were nonetheless interested in contemporary religious thinking.

The aim would be to present another way of seeing, with a view to exploring ideas free of institutional constraints and dogmatic straitjackets, and without recourse to a supernatural world beyond us.

My approach would not be in any way hostile to the essential core of the Judaeo-Christian tradition, but seek to tease out key concepts in a way that might make sense to secular people in a secular world. It would reflect the main currents of modern scholarship, bringing such thinking to the attention of people who might never be aware of them otherwise, in the churches or out of them.

The column would build on the assumption that ideas about God are generated within the human imagination for powerful, profound and honourable reasons, and that all religions are human creations.

I would offer that other way of seeing as clearly as I knew how, but would not use the space to attack other peoples cherished beliefs. Always the emphasis would be on the experience and processes of religion, not creeds and dogmas.

So the column has treated the Christian tradition as an open-ended process of becoming. The heritage centred on Jesus is basic. The point is not to embrace it uncritically, however, but rather to distinguish its core from the barnacles which over the centuries have inevitably encrusted it.

Among the barnacles are old theological formulations that made good sense within the world as it was once understood to be. But our modern understanding of the heavens, Earth, life, humanity and destiny is vastly different. In the past 200 years knowledge has exploded think of space and an expanding universe, the relativity of time, space and matter, Earths age, natures processes, quantum physics, biological evolution, our genetic coding, medical science, psychology, global awareness and more.

The upshot is that the age-old God questions must now be re-addressed from within our societys secular world-view. That means Christians today will be truest to their heritage when they scrape away the barnacles, re-examine the origins of their faith, take full account of modern knowledge and experience, and then rethink what faith can mean in the modern world.

Faith is critical. In common usage it means believing all sorts of weird and wonderful things on the basis of ecclesiastical authority.

Thats a grotesque distortion. True faith is a quality of human living. It is a trusting orientation to life and its possibilities for good. It draws on past traditions but is free to rethink them as knowledge expands and world-views evolve. It sits along with hope and love at the pinnacle of human values.

On that note, I sign off on my 331 columns published in this newspaper. Happy Christmas!

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Religious evolution examined over 16 years and 331 newspaper columns - Otago Daily Times

As the year and decade draw to a close and we enter the roaring twenties, the power of creativity has never been more important.

2019 was the year of purpose and activism with creativity becoming a driving force for good.

The work which won big at Cannes Lions was overwhelmingly focussed on social good, with brands using their voice to stand for a cause beyond their own business.

Whether it be the climate emergency the world is facing, taking a stand for democracy, feeding starving children or championing diversity, the creative industry has used its talent to create change.

WPP AUNZ interim CEO John Steedman took on the anonymous trolls and PwCs Nicky Bryson joined forces with Youngbloods to help mentor the industrys young people with the launch of The Trenches.

This year also saw the industry try to find its feet following the WPP mergers of 2018 some working out better than others.

We were introduced to WPP AUNZs new CEO Jens Monsees who joined the holding company from BMW Group in Germany and saw a string of executives come and go across adland.

The year also saw some more mergers including BMF and Naked Communications, Switched On and AKQA, With Collective and Isobar and redundancies across the networks including one-year old GrowthOps.

It was also a big milestone for many including Saatchi & Saatchi and AWARD who both celebrated 40 years.

Weeks away from the 2020, we asked creative leaders to share what they predict 2020 will hold for the industry.

The Ogilvy Groupchief executive of Australia& executive partnerDavid FoxIn a world where common sense seems to have all but disappeared, I believe 2020 will see the marketing and communications industry re-introduce it back into the brand building debate. Common sense that suggests it is not TV versus tech, but TV and tech; its not about one-off tactical ads, but long-term sustainable brand building campaigns and short-term tactics; its not about pitching or not pitching, its about finding the right cultural and capability fit and working hard at it every day like in any relationship. It will be about understanding that building modern brands is a team sport and that sometimes uncomfortable collaborations will create the best work. The agencies, clients and consultants who get this will get ahead and win in 2020.

CHE Proximity chief creative officer Ant WhiteBrands will take responsibility for the impact they are having on the world. If the airline industry were a country, it would be the seventh largest polluter in the world. When you look at a brands footprint this way, it makes you realise that they need to start taking responsibility for their contribution to global warming and become part of the solution. With governments in disarray, and not acting fast enough to fix climate change, it really is up to brands to take action. They have deep pockets and mass reach. And its already happening. From KLM asking people to fly responsibly to grocery chains removing plastic bags. 2020 will see more brands sticking their neck out and owning the problem. I hope so anyway.

Thinkerbell co-founder Adam FerrierJust three predictions. 1. Accenture Interactive buys WPP2. Mutiny buys S4 Capital3. Creativity wins

DDB Australia CEO Andrew LittleThe more things change the more they stay the same and 2019 has been a testament to that. Bill Berbachs insights from the middle of the last century are more relevant today than they were when he uttered them. As an industry, weve become obsessed with change, but I see 2020 as the year that we will shift focus on the unchanging. It will also be the year that more brands commit to embracing the long AND the short of it with a handful of smart marketers already leading the way. As always, were set for an eventful year.

Wunderman ThompsonCEO ANZJohn GutteridgeAIand biometric data will drive brands to personalise customer experiences. 2020 is the tipping point in AI and biometric data. With an exponential amount of biometric data that were creating every second, AI will allow us to utilise this information to create an ultra-hyper-personalised experience and begin to predict customer needs. We can already see the beginning of this, as consumers happily trade-in data for better customer experiences. In fact, 75% of consumers use biometric technology already to simplify their life, whether its from using their Google Home to turn on the TV to facial recognition to open a banking app (Statista, 2019). It's this biometric data that will allow us to identify customer pain-points, personalise experiences, and with AI predict consumer needs.

Clemenger BBDO Sydney CEO Pete BosilkovskiMake utility, not just a sale. We are in the customer centric era, where brands will increasingly move from extracting value from customers to finding new ways to enhance the experience people have with brands. They will go beyond the products and services they sell to creating a form of utility that helps people in their lives. Brands that do this will solve problems for customers in a non-commercial interaction, and over time will only strengthen their engagement and relevance with customers - ultimately translating to future sales.

Saatchi & Saatchi Australia CEO Anthony GregorioA dawning realisation that you cant cost cut your way to success in an increasingly commoditised world and that creativity is the last legal way to create genuine business advantage.

Switched Ondirector, brand, social& content APAC Yash MurthyAt 10am last week, there were hordes of teenagers assembling outside the Enmore Theatre. Harry Styles in town? Some dire American YouTuber? No. Turns out K-Pop act Day6 were playing in 10 hours. As they danced and Tik-Toked their way through the day to pass the time, it struck me that the pop-cultural axes have certainly shifted. The regional influence on our art and food have long been apparent, but finally, from platforms to pop stars, I think 2020 is the year our commercial creativity draws upon the mainstream appeal of our continental neighbours. Were uniquely placed to seize upon it, and I hope (and believe) we will. Tik Tok, it's Asia o'clock.

VMLY&R CEO ANZJon BirdI see two overarching and competing trends the tug of war between technology and humanity which may be better resolved in 2020. Artificial Intelligence will continue to ramp up to make things more efficient. At the same time, Human Insight will be ever more valued to make things more compelling. Agencies that can balance both effectively and creatively will win. I also believe in Cannes Chairman Phil Thomas analysis of three keys from this years Lions: Access, Activism, Commerce. Considering those for 2020 - diversity and inclusion will be critical; having a purpose fundamental; and linking to a sale essential.

Apparent CEO Phil Smith20/20 presents as the year of hindsight? Look back to plan forward. Doing this would help move on from the tired focus of the "Year of " to the year of the business of our business. Customer insights driving effective and engaging creative solutions all of which deliver on client business problems. Done with the agility and speed of the market.

DDI managing director Caroline McLaughlin Bots become flagbearers of positive change. Anyone who hasnt cottoned on to the fact that bots are here to stay has been living in a dark cave. I foresee 2020 will be the year when the ingenuity of automation really takes flight, and this conversation moves out of the shadows. Its human nature to be resistant to unseen machines that may take your job so the companies that win big in this space will be those who seamlessly integrate automation but also embrace cultural initiatives that allow their people to reinvent themselves.

The Works managing partner Tom HarberWith the experience economy stronger than ever, 2020 will be the rise of the CXO. Data sophistication will win the day. Brands and agencies included. Conversation and voice will feature in more marketing plans. New pricing models will emerge and value based remuneration will get more air time. We will see an increased demand for outsourced inhousing. Human Centred Design will play a more prominent role in creativity. Despite best efforts to ditch the pitch, we will continue to get RFPeed on.

The Hallway CEO Jules Hall The 10s was the decade of understanding advertising effectiveness. Weve had seminal text after seminal text - from Byron Sharp to Binet & Field, Karen Nelson-Field, Orlando Wood and of course the ever-entertaining, but slightly foul-mouthed Mark Ritson, and all the rest. The researchers have spoken: Creativity is critical. 70% of advertising effectiveness is determined by the content rather than the placement. More importantly weve learned what qualifies as effective creativity. 2020 is the year the word will spread. The industry is realising that optimisation is table stakes. Creativity is the differentiator. The smartest marketers will invest in re-learning what has become too much of a forgotten art. Get ready for the fun!

Spinach CEO Craig Flanders2020 will be a very tough year for anyone trying to get your average Aussie to part with money. They want to pay less for the same stuff they bought a year or two ago, and want to spend less time figuring it out you should know, I bought from you before!. So we all need to give them the stuff they intuitively want, in an easier to find/acquire (or delivered) package faster than they could get it last year. And at the same time, making more margin to keep our shareholders at bay. Easy right? Well, yes it is if youve been planting the seeds to provide you marketing strategy with the ability to mass personalise.

Bastion Collective CEO Jack WattsRealising they can no longer shrink their way to greatness through cost cutting, brands will be forced to invest in growing the top line and communications/marketing will have greater priority as a result. Consumers will continue to gravitate towards brands that talk to them in their language, in their time and in their place. Brands will demand fully integrated communications solutions from agencies that can deliver the breadth of services. Traditional agencies and media outlets will continue to be challenged and make more drastic changes, creating opportunities for nimble agencies built for the modern communications world.

Town Square chief strategy officer Neville DoyleChange will be most notable in its absence. VR and AR are not suddenly going to transform our industry. Consumers are not suddenly going to want an in-depth relationship with their given brand of toothpaste on social media. TikTok, whilst infinitely entertaining, is not going to change everything (after all, its just Vine with better CX). And behaviour change will be something that we all strive for but rarely achieve (ask yourself, when was the last time you truly changed your own behaviour). Instead, those who continue to embrace creativity as a competitive advantage will thrive whilst those who dont will struggle.

Digitas CEO Adrian FaroukAccording to Gartner in 2016, next year we will all be having more conversations with bots than with our partners while I wouldnt go quite as far as this, we have certainly evolved our thoughts of chatbots as being more than just crap interfaces for FAQs. People are now booking dinner reservations, plane tickets, receiving boarding passes, sharing feedback and more, all through messaging interfaces. At Digitas, our clients are already experimenting with highly sophisticated conversational interfaces. This 2-way dialogue can be the best way to establish individual audience needs to deliver truly personalised experiences. These programs will span into next year and we expect them to be just the beginning.

McCann Queensland executive creative director Ben DavisTruth Well Told. Its as timeless as ever, and never more relevant than today. Next year brands will continue to redefine their identities as they navigate their way through the next phase of what has been a global purpose revolution. This year weve seen many brands criticized for rushing towards purpose-led work, launching campaigns that havent fit the truth of the brand or the relationship it enjoys with its customers. In a climate of mistrust and fake news, there has never been a better time for brands to stand for something. It wont be long however, before consumers reach a saturation point. This is the point where the stakes are raised, the point in which only some genuinely great work will hit home. Clever agencies will understand that sometimes its OK to just be fun, or funny, or undeniably cool, because that may be at the heart of a brands truth. When meaning works its genuinely wonderful! But it can only be successfully navigated by Truth.

Loyal co-founders Paulie Fenton and Joshua Hunt

DAYLIGHT Agency executive creative director Chris MitchellIf data could predict the future, wed all know the winner of the last race at Randwick tomorrow. But data cant predict the future. Yet. So, at the risk of sounding analogue, Ill have a go at my prediction based on what Im seeing in the marketplace. Prediction One: Companies who lose sight of their purpose will continue to fall into obscurity. Prediction Two: The global supermarket trend will continue with expanding private label ranges forcing remaining brands to survive on reduced margins. Prediction Three: Short term sales targets will reduce the ability for CMOs to invest in building long term brand purpose and trust. Prediction Four: Lapsed brands will make a comeback. Prediction Five: Agencies will need to ensure they talk value not price.

Common Ventures co-founder James CrawleyIve read the last few years of these and theres nothing I can say that hasnt been said. So I put it to you: 2020 will rock. We will all be nicer to each other. Agencies that churn less staff will win more work. Storytelling will continue to be the most effective part of what we do, although Im sure well call it something else.

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Creative agency predictions 2020: Creativity wins, purpose and the evolution of technology - AdNews