China’s Constantine Moment: After simmering in the countryside for decades, Chinese churches are exploding among young urban college educated professionals to such a degree that Chinese Christians now outnumber Communist party members. What’s an atheist state to do?
Why Spiritual Transformation has a lot to do with the Brain, by Rob Moll
The attention required in spiritual practices like deep prayer, contemplation, study, and worship is what the brain needs to grow in lasting ways.
Empathy, Neurochemistry, and the Dramatic Arc, by Paul J. Zak
Why do our palms sweat as we watch James Bond fight for his life? Paul Zak’s research is uncovering how stories shape our brains, tie strangers together, and move us to be more empathic, generous and connected. Part 1.
Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling, by Paul J. Zak
We found that character-driven stories consistently cause oxytocin synthesis. Viewers will literally bond with the characters and share their emotions, and after the movie ends, they are likely to continue mimicking the feelings and behaviors of those characters.
Shia LaBeouf’s Journey through Fury to Faith?
How a war movie, Brad Pitt, and writer/director David Ayer helped one of Hollywood’s most talented (and troubled) stars find peace.
“I found God doing Fury. I became a Christian man, and not in a f***ing bullsh*t way—in a very real way.” -Shia LaBeouf
Art as a Mode of Knowing: Four Psychological Aspects, by Maria Popova
“Whoever reflects recognizes that there are empty and lonely spaces between one’s experiences.” -Jerome Bruner, On Knowing: Essays for the Left Hand
A Few Surprises (and some Big Questions) in LinkedIn’s Top 25 Schools for Media Professionals
With the education and job history data for over 300 million members at their fingertips, LinkedIn is in a unique position to connect undergraduate programs with a successful career as a Media professional. But USC at #19 and UCLA lower still? Now, that is something to get Hollywood talking.
Is the Internet Killing Christianity? by Christian Piatt
Do we deserve the obsolescence toward which we are so steadily headed?
Welcome to College (Where Religious Freedom Goes to Die?)
Why are colleges and universities — places of higher learning supposedly committed to the free exchange of ideas and beliefs — withdrawing recognition from these groups?
Transformative Coaching: Inspiring Your Team by Demonstrating You Care, by Todd Hall, PhD
Whether you’re coaching a team, leading an organization, mentoring someone, or contributing individually to a group, Ted Atteberry’s approach to coaching practices can help you make a positive impact by leading with connection within your sphere of influence.
Who’s Creating the Movies and TV Programs that will Inspire the Next Generation?, by Phil Cooke, PhD
With a current television schedule filled with vampires, corrupt cops, hypocritical politicians, fathers who act like buffoons, soft-core porn, growing levels of violence, and more – who’s producing programs that will do for this generation of kids the same thing that The Lone Ranger and Adam 12 did for the last?