#Virtual Church

[volhvs2025]

How to Submit Confidential Information | Virtual Church Summit 2025

https://t.me/VOLHVY77/8

Explore our proposal for developing spiritual social pedagogy at the Virtual Church Summit. Join us in our efforts to create an inclusive, inspiring community dedicated to ethical and spiritual growth.

https://sites.google.com/view/virtualchurchsummit/Pedagogy

[kdval]

ELDEN RING

› Shadow of the Erdtree: verticals [12/?]

[mercymaker]

What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this way... (insp. by @mynthara)

[lipslost]

🫧 Going for a school mistress going to church kinda vibe 🫧

[playitagainmyjohnny]

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Kiera Butler at Mother Jones:

Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump held his first campaign rally as a convicted felon at Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, hosted by the arch-conservative student group Turning Point USA. This wasn’t Trump’s first appearance at Dream City Church; he also held a rally there with Turning Point USA in 2020. For events like this, it’s an ideal venue: A weekly attendance of around 21,000 believers makes this one of the largest churches not just in Arizona but in the nation.

Dream City, which didn’t respond to my questions for this story, is a mecca for special guests who blur the line between religion and politics. Its annual conference has featured notables like musician and pastor Sean Feucht, who participated in a White House prayer session for President Trump in 2019 and is currently leading a tour of prayer rallies at state capitol buildings across the country. The lineup for this year’s event also included David Barton, whose organization, WallBuilders, teaches K-12 students about the supposed Christian origins of America; Jürgen Mathesius, a pastor at San Diego’s far-right Awaken Church, which has become a stop on Mike Flynn’s ReAwaken America tour; and Jentezen Franklin, a televangelist who also spoke at the 2022 Pray Vote Stand Summit, which mobilizes conservative Christian voters to engage in political activism.

In addition to its thrumming weekly worship sessions and its blockbuster events, the church has another project: Dream City Christian Academy. The K-12 private school, which serves nearly 800 students, is part of Turning Point USA’s Turning Point Academy program, a network of 41 schools that describes itself as “an educational movement that exists to glorify God and preserve the founding principles of the United States through influencing and inspiring the formation of the next generation.” Dream City Christian Academy promises to “Protect our campus from the infiltration of unethical agendas by rejecting all ‘woke’ and untruthful ideologies being pushed on students.” This politically charged approach to education likely isn’t for everyone—and because it’s a private school, it doesn’t have to be. Except for one thing: Dream City Christian Academy is one of a growing number of religious schools that are supported by public funds.

In 2022, Arizona became the first state in which all students are allowed to use state vouchers to cover a portion of tuition at any private school, secular or religious. Through Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, each participating family receives about 90 percent of the money the state would have spent on the child’s public school education—around $7,000 per student per year—for private school tuition. For the 2024-2025 school year, the Dream City Christian Academy annual tuition ranges from $10,450 in elementary school to $13,999 in high school—so families of the school’s nearly 800 students can use state funds to pay for between half and two-thirds of their tuition bill. Dream City Christian Academy received almost $1 million in tuition voucher money last year, the Arizona Republic recently reported.

Since Arizona passed its universal voucher law, 10 more states have followed suit. According to an analysis by Education Week, 29 states currently have programs that provide such assistance to a variety of different students many of whom attend local public schools that perform poorly. It also targets those with a disability that requires specialized education and those whose families earn significantly less than the federal poverty level. More programs are in the works: Lawmakers in both Louisiana and South Carolina recently advanced bills that would create programs like Arizona’s that are open to all students. When state funds are available for private school choice programs, a recent Washington Post analysis found that religious schools receive upwards of 90 percent of that money.

[...] A prerequisite for students and their families to attend some of the schools that currently receive voucher money is that they accept Jesus Christ as their lord and savior. In March, the education blog Notes from the Chalkboard highlighted one such school. Students attending North Carolina’s Daniel Christian Academy, are trained to “enter the Seven Mountains of Influence,” a main tenet of a Christian Nationalist movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation. Its adherents believe that the faithful are called to seek Christian control of the “seven mountains” of society: family, education, media, government, business, arts & entertainment, and religion. Many New Apostolic Reformation followers believe that waging “spiritual warfare” is justified in achieving these goals, though Daniel Christian Academy specifies that its endorsement of the Seven Mountains Mandate “in no way includes violence or manipulation at any level.”

Americans United for Separation of Church and State’s Laser worries that the proliferation of private school voucher programs will open the door to even more permissive rules around the use of public education dollars to teach religion. She points to a suite of bills that would allow public schools to employ chaplains, and even more remarkably, to an Oklahoma Catholic school called St. Isidore of Seville, which is set to become the nation’s first Christian public charter school this fall. The overarching goal of these initiatives, she says, is to “bestow a power and privilege on Christians in our country, at the expense of all the other religions in America.” Meanwhile, public education is robbed  “of the funding that it’s entitled to.”

Mother Jones reports on the disturbing trend of Christian Nationalists opening taxpayer-funded private schools with the intention to indoctrinate students with right-wing politics and a Christian Nationalist worldview.

[roamingtigress]

Silly boy.

[peppermint-whiskers]

The holy trinity as depicted in the heavenly serpent au uwu

THEM

[doctorlavender]

NeonCode

[aiisstuffnthings]

Survivors

[galacticlamps]

very minor thing I still definitely deserve a medal for:

being raised catholic, and now as an adult repeatedly falling in love with characters that fandoms like to declare catholic, but still managing to reject those headcanons because at heart I'm too much of a stickler for accurate analysis to get behind them when i know the person in question is really meant to be anglican/episcopalian/whatever other flavor of christian

i am being, as the poets say, so brave about it

[electronictheoristactivist]

[paramedicabroad]

Old Rauma

Embark with me on a virtual odyssey to the UNESCO World Heritage site—the Old Town of Rauma in Finland. Let's unravel the threads of history woven into the fabric of this picturesque town, where every cobblestone whispers tales of centuries past.

In 1991, Old Rauma received UNESCO World Heritage status, acknowledging its outstanding universal value in preserving a unique wooden town that reflects the architectural traditions of Northern Europe.

Discover Old Rauma's enchanting wooden architecture, a testament to Finland's rich heritage. Roam the labyrinthine lanes lined with charming wooden houses, painted in vibrant hues that evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia.

Step into the heart of Old Rauma at the Market Square, where locals and visitors converge amidst historic buildings. The square, surrounded by lively cafes and boutiques, is a vibrant hub that adds a contemporary touch to the town's timeless allure.

Visit the Holy Cross Church, a silent witness to centuries of Finnish history. This medieval church stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Old Rauma, with its ancient gravestones and atmospheric interiors that echo with the whispers of bygone eras.

Explore the artisanal treasures of Old Rauma, including the renowned Rauma lace. Delve into local crafts and shops that showcase the town's artistic heritage, providing an opportunity to take a piece of Old Rauma's charm home with you.

Wander through the streets where modern life harmoniously coexists with historic preservation. Old Rauma's sympathetic approach to urban development ensures that the town continues to thrive while preserving its unique character.

Embark on a digital journey through Old Rauma with online exhibitions, virtual walks, and interactive experiences. Immerse yourself in the town's heritage from the comfort of your digital space, experiencing its timeless beauty.

In conclusion, Old Rauma invites you to traverse its winding streets, revealing a tapestry of time and heritage. When you're ready for a virtual sojourn through a UNESCO World Heritage site that feels like a stroll through a storybook town, Old Rauma awaits with open arms. 🏡🕰️🇫🇮

[inafieldofdaisies]

Far Cry 5 (2018) | Replay in 2023 | Scenery appreciation (vol. 30) | A visit to Joseph's Compound (part 1)

[mattapparentlystumbltourneys]

Virtual Character Tourney - Bracket B - Round 13

Propaganda below (May contain spoilers!)

MegaMan.EXE propaganda:

A dying child given new life, helping his brother through the mundane tasks of life…until terrorists try destroying everything. Then, he must risk his existence to save both his world, and the one he can only watch.

Ok but seriously his story is incredible, he's super likeable, and is a massive dork. You can find a program that just makes MegaMan.EXE tell bad puns. I love him.

Church propaganda:

Just a fun dude. He's so tired of everyone else in the canyon. Has an ex who is also a virtual character. Can't use a sniper rifle to save his life (quite literally), he dies so many times. Despite his negative opinions of his fellow soldiers in Blood Gulch, he does legitimately care about them. Accidentally caused his first death. Has plural swag. And the best armour colour.

[playitagainmyjohnny]