【156-158】What Do American Christians Think God Looks Like?
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*【156】AS IT IS
What Do American Christians Think God Looks Like?
June 23, 2018
Researchers from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill created this composite photo based on responses of people asked what they think God looks like. (Photo: PLOS One)
A recent study by the Pew Research Center shows nearly 90 percent of Americans believe in God either as described in the Bible, or in some kind of higher power.
And, in a separate study, more than 500 American Christians provided their thoughts on what they think God looks like. That study was carried out by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Their results were published this month in the journal PLOS One.
In the UNC study, subjects were shown hundreds of different pairs of faces and then asked to choose which one looked more like “the face of God.” The researchers used the responses to create images aimed at reflecting those views.
The study noted that the Christian Bible gives differing descriptions of God. Genesis 1:27 describes man as created in God’s image. But in other places, such as John 4:24, the Bible describes God as a spirit being.
In addition, many historical artist creations show God as an old, white-bearded Caucasian man. But the UNC study found that, in general, many Christians see God differently than that popular image: younger, more feminine, and less Caucasian.
To understand the range of ideas about God, researchers examined several groups within the American Christian community.
Among the groups were Americans who identified themselves as politically liberal or politically conservative. In the U.S., “liberal” usually relates to using government action to support social and political change. “Conservative” often relates to limiting government regulation and finding private solutions to problems.
The researchers said liberals saw God as “more feminine, younger, and more loving.” They said conservatives saw God as older, more Caucasian and “more powerful.”
Joshua Conrad Jackson was one of the lead researchers for the study. He said the differences based on political beliefs could have resulted from “the type of societies that liberals and conservatives want.”
He said past research has shown that conservatives generally feel more at ease in a well-ordered society – one that would be best controlled by a powerful God. But liberals, he said, seek a more tolerant society, overseen by a more loving God.
The study also found differences based on people’s age and race.
Younger people pictured a young-looking God, while older Christians imagined an older God. In addition, people who reported being physically attractive also believed in a physically attractive God.
African Americans generally described God as looking African American, while white Americans imaged a Caucasian God.
Researcher Kurt Gray said the results showed that, in general, people imagined a God that looked similar to themselves. “People often project their beliefs and traits onto others, and our study shows that God’s appearance is no different -- people believe in a God who not only thinks like them, but also looks like them,” he said.
But there was one area where this was not the case. The gender of the respondent did not appear to matter. Researchers observed that men and women both “believed in an equally masculine-looking God.”
I’m Bryan Lynn.
Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from PLOS One and the Associated Press. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
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Words in This Story
reflect – v. cause people to think of someone or something in a specified way
Caucasian – adj. person who has white or pale skin
feminine – adj. showing qualities that people generally think are typical of women
tolerant – adj. willing to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own
attractive – adj. beautiful or pleasant to look at
trait – n. quality making a person or thing different from another
masculine – adj. showing qualities that people generally think are typical of men
*【157】AS IT IS
What Will Russia’s $15 Billion Investment in the World Cup Buy?
June 23, 2018
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev look at the field during the match between Russia and Saudi Arabia which opens the 2018 soccer World Cup, at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia.
The FIFA World Cup soccer championship in Russia is the most costly ever held.
Officials say the total cost will be $15 billion.
Close to $3 billion has been spent on 12 new or improved stadiums. At least $8 billion has been spent on infrastructure, including new roads, railroads and airports.
Now, experts question whether there will be a good return for the Russian taxpayer.
Professor Leonid Grigoryev is an economist at the Analytical Center for the Government of the Russian Federation. He offers an unusual answer. He compares the World Cup to a wedding dress.
“On one hand, it’s necessary. It makes everybody happy," Grigoryev told VOA. "The exact economic efficiency definitely cannot be defined in American quarterly financial reports. It’s a long-term story. We still hope to become not only a hockey country, but a football country."
Brazil held the last World Cup in 2014 at an estimated cost of $11 billion. Four years later, the difference is clear to Brazilian football fans in Moscow
“Comparing Brazil with Russia, the infrastructure here is much better than ours,” Marcio Pessoa told VOA, as he walked through Red Square.
Russia’s $15 billion investment is aimed at improving the country’s image, even as it faces sanctions. International restrictions were put in place over Russia’s activities in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Dmitry Oreshkin is a political expert. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin tries to govern as though the sanctions are not important. “'Despite sanctions, we conduct such a gorgeous World Cup. Despite sanctions we go ahead with the war in Syria’…until the very moment that they start feeling that for all this pleasure, they are paying [for something],” said Oreshkin.
The first to feel the financial difficulty are likely to be the middle-aged people looking forward to retirement.
On opening day of the World Cup last week, the government announced an increase in the pension age, from 60 to 65 for men, and a much bigger jump for women, from 55 to 63.
Eva lives in Moscow. The 62-year-old told VOA that most Russians were not surprised.
She said she believed that officials thought that the championship would ease the effect of the news.
Eva described a joke that people were telling about the increase in the retirement ago.
“‘Yesterday, I had four years until pension age. Today, I have nine years. And they still keep telling us that you can’t get your youth back!’” she said.
Russia said the World Cup is partly a gift for its young people. There is talk of unforgettable memories and new buildings. The World Cup ends on July 15, but its value will be measured in the coming years.
I’m Susan Shand.
Henry Ridgewell reported this story for VOA News. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.
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Word in This Story
stadium – n. a very large usually roofless building that has a large open area surrounded by many rows of seats and that is used for sports events, concerts
infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly
efficiency – n. the ability to do something or produce something without wasting materials, time, or energy
sanctions – n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country
annexation – n. to add an area or region to a country, state, etc. : to take control of a territory or place
gorgeous – adj. very beautiful or attractive
pension – n. an amount of money that a company or the government pays to a person who is old or sick and no longer works
*【158】AS IT IS
Many Animals Staying Awake at Night to Avoid People
June 23, 2018
Bengali Tiger
Lions, tigers and other mammals are staying awake at night to avoid human beings, a new study finds.
Scientists have long known that human activity can lead to changes in nature. Many mammals may move around less or travel to distant places to avoid contact with people. By being awake at night, mammals can also be on guard against possible attackers and spend less time looking for food.
The latest research found even activities like hiking and camping can frighten animals and cause them to become more active at night.
Kaitlyn Gaynor of the University of California, Berkeley led the study. She said, "It suggests that animals might be playing it safe around people. We may think that we leave no trace when we're just hiking in the woods, but our mere presence can have lasting consequences."
She and her team of researchers examined 76 other studies involving 62 species on six continents. Among the animals studied were lions in Tanzania, tigers in Nepal, and otters in Brazil.
Researchers compared how much time those animals were active at night in areas of human activity, such as hunting, hiking and farming. The team found that, on average, human presence caused an increase of about 20 percent in night time activity, even in creatures that usually sleep at night.
Results were published in the journal Science.
The findings are unusual because no one else has gathered all this information and looked at it in such detail, noted Ana Benitez Lopez of Radboud University in the Netherlands. She examined the research, but was not part of the study.
Ecologist Marlee Tucker was surprised that any kind of human activity is enough for mammals to see people as a threat.
"It's a little bit scary," she said.
Tucker works at the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany. She was not part of the study.
Kaitlyn Gaynor said the change in hours will affect animals that have already have trouble in the darkness. But she said that the changes could also help other animals reduce conflict with people.
"Humans can do their thing during the day; wildlife can do their thing at night," she said.
Gaynor added, that way, people would be sharing the planet with many other species.
I'm Jonathan Evans.
The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
mammal– n. an animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin
vigilant– adj.carefully noticing problems or signs of danger
hike– v. to walk a long distance, especially for pleasure or exercise
trace – n.a very small amount of something
consequence– n.something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions
species– n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants
scary– adj. causing fear
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