In other words: towards a poetic theology of the spoken Word of God

In this paper, Jacob Rollison considers poetry in its various relations. Poetry raises questions regarding the relation of the world to a ‘beyond’, and the relation of representation to presence. The question poetry poses to theology is: if Jesus Christ is the Word, is this to be understood prosaically or poetically? as representation or presence? To probe this question Rollison draws on the work of the French theologian, sociologist and poet Jacques Ellul. For Ellul, poetry manifests the inseparability of form and content in communication, resisting Kierkegaard’s ironic stance by viewing the word as inseparable from the life of the one who speaks it. This points, in turn, to an inseparability of form and content in theology and the presence of God in his revelation. In contrast to the post-structuralist view, the world is not a text. For Ellul, the central medium is God’s speech, temporal and non-spatial in its essence. His poetics of speech is in turn based on the poetics of the Word of God. The form, then, of the Apocalypse in Revelation ‘allows the comprehension of its content’: theology is a poetic listening and responding to the Word, architecture in movement. The concerns of theology as poetry are not simply with poetic ideas but with the richer world of poetic existence.Publisher PD

Shifts in ownership toward high-powered motorcycles and its effects on public health

Objectives. We assessed whether policies designed to safeguard young motorcyclists would be effective given shifts in ownership toward high-powered motorcycles. Methods. We investigated population-wide motor vehicle driver and motorcyclist casualties (excluding passengers) recorded in Britain between 2002 and 2009. To adjust for exposure and measure individual risk, we used the estimated number of trips of motorcyclists and drivers, which had been collected as part of a national travel survey. Results. Motorcyclists were 76 times more likely to be killed than were drivers for every trip. Older motorcyclist age—strongly linked to experience, skill set,and riding behavior—did not abate the risks of high-powered motorcycles. Older motorcyclists made more trips on high-powered motorcycles. Conclusions: Tighter engine size restrictions would help reduce the use of high-powered motorcycles. Policymakers should introduce health warnings on the risks of high-powered motorcycles and the benefits of safety equipment

We Are Not Alone: Finding Family Across a Universe of Differences in Lilo and Stitch

This paper examines how the Disney animated film Lilo and Stitch functions as a work of science fiction, with a particular interest in its specific nature as children\u27s science fiction and what the importance of children\u27s literature and media is. Lilo and Stitch makes use of typically science fictional elements and themes, such as alien societies and the considerations that accompany the artificial creation of life, and juxtaposes them with realistic and culturally relevant themes of grief and post-colonialism. This juxtaposition serves to highlight the unique problems faced by each of the titular characters, who have been othered by their respective societies, the concept of the other being yet another common science fiction trope. In the face of this commonality, the main characters are drawn together and fill the unique needs the other has, as demonstrated through the concept of ohana. As a work intended for children, Lilo and Stitch makes excellent use of the art of subtlety in conveying its themes, and it is this subtlety that encourages much of the creativity found in works intended for children. It is an unspoken rule that there are certain topics that should not be directly breached in children\u27s media, and while many creators push the boundaries of what is allowed and what isn\u27t, creators have always found ways to introduce more serious and realistic topics into children\u27s media