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The Nightmare Before Christmas ' director, Henry Selick, tells us that watching the film should be like opening a pop-up book. Clean-cut silhouettes, fingerprints and grooves, hidden surprises, and playful subversiveness are as integral to Nightmare 's production design as they are typical of the pop-up book form. In this article, I will examine this symmetry and discuss how Selick's vision of a living illustration connects to the range of paper-engineered transmedia toys, books, and seasonal tokens that the film inspired. An early example is A Super Pop-Up (1993)—a charming gift book which positions the reader as a pseudo-stop-motion-animator, bending over doublespread dioramas to slide paper-cut characters into position. More recently, Reinhart's elaborate Petrifying Pop-Up for the Holidays (2018) showcases several contemporary devices that re-create specific filmic shots. Other notable Disney-endorsed merchandise includes a Pop-Up Advent Calendar (2019), featuring an impressively tall Gothmas-esque tree, and elegant pop-up Halloween and Valentine's cards produced by Hallmark and Lovepop. Each item treads the line between spirited plaything and fragile ornament, theatrical spectacle, and interactive artwork—a blurring of binaries that echoes the experimental artistry of Nightmare and continues to delight both young fans and adult collectors. Perhaps unsurprisingly, creative fans also appreciate Nightmare 's suitability for paper-craft, sharing printable DIY templates and paper-cut fan-art. I will demonstrate how the Victorian flavour of Nightmare , the affordances of stop-motion, and the film's stylistic and branding choices combine to emulate and elevate the nostalgic practice of 'making Christmas' from the humblest of materials—paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of Christianity in Nagaland is a pivotal and transformative event in the history of Nagaland. This paper delves into the arrival of Christian Missionaries in Nagaland which marked a significant shift in the religious and cultural landscape of the Naga people. Through the Christian education brought by the American Baptist Missionaries, Nagaland is now, called as "Nagaland for Christ". Christianity in Nagaland developed from two phases. The first phase began in the year 1842, through Rev. Miles Bronson and the second phase began in the year 1872, through Rev. E.W. Clark. This paper also examines the challenges and opportunities that have arisen as a result of the Integration of Christianity into Naga Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article consists of three parts, excluding the Introduction and the Conclusion. The first part “What is it ‘to wait’?” is a lexicographical study on the word ‘waiting’, in various Indo-European languages. This lexicographical adventure that passes through some dense foliage will not only clarify the different connotations in the phenomenon of waiting, but will also lead us to the second part of the paper – “Waiting and Time Consciousness”. Here, the art of waiting is examined through the looking glass of Time as understood by the philosophers Henri Bergson, Edmund Husserl, Hannah Arendt, and Martin Heidegger. The questions of how we wait and why we wait are addressed in this section. The third part looks at the presence-absence of the waiting spirit in the post-truth era that we are living in. Titled, “We, the Hollow People”, this section highlights what happens to us when we forget to wait, forget to stand and gaze. The Concluding part “Waiting for God Who Awaits Us” speaks of Christians as “waiters”, waiting with and for God, the other, and also on oneself, not on lofty mountain peaks, but right down on the “bathroom floor”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay addresses challenges that emerged during Advent through recent experience of lecturing at Berkeley Divinity School, the Episcopal Seminary at Yale. For many of my students, Advent 2020 presented particular challenges since they found that the recurring utilization of 'darkness' as a metaphor for sin and death did not sit easily with their commitment to anti-racist thought and practice. This essay does not attempt to provide a definitive model for how Anglicans might engage fully with Advent themes, but serves as a paper to 'think with' in which the author (a) engages with Michael Battle's work on Anglican spirituality and (b) describes how her own expertise on Gregory of Nyssa was brought to bear on present needs. The Advent focus on darkness and light, I propose, does not need to be circumvented but provides Anglicans who are attentive to the problems of racism with an opportunity to examine further their own approach to 'darkness'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses laughter as one of the structure-forming themes in Ksenia Buksha's novel Advent (2021). The novel consists of two parts, the retrospective one being graphically separated from the main narrative. The theme of laughter does not seem to be connected with the event part; however, it brings about several sidelines. Methodologically, the research relied on the theory of motif developed by I. V. Silantiev, where the motif is considered as part of the narrative. The variability of laughter in literature is complemented by its multifaceted character in philosophy and culture. The works by S. S. Averintsev, L. V. Karasev, and M. T. Ryumina made it possible to understand the semantics of laughter as a cultural and social phenomenon. In her novel, K. Buksha hardly ever links laughter with the category of comic: in fact, laughter almost never accompanies mockery. As a rule, laughter in Advent is involuntary and unmotivated. It is associated with the true, imaginary, or impossible liberation of the characters from eternal routine and malign infinity, be it their entire lives or just a depressing episode. The laughter moments belong both to the main and episodic characters, which indicates that laughter is a universal symbol of crisis. This interpretation contributes to a deeper philosophical and ontological understanding of the contemporary Russian literature.

South Africa is experiencing a proliferation of ecumenical church organisations since the advent of democratic South Africa. Many of these organisations occur in the townships in the form of minister fraternals, some of whom are affiliated to a larger and higher ecumenical body such as SACC and others. Nearly every town in South Africa has a minister fraternal. The goals of these minister fraternals are fellowship, reaching out to each other, and societal involvement to deal with social ills in partnership with other societal structures such as the state and business sectors. This study aims to explore how congregations in the townships (in Mangaung, Bloemfontein, and Qwaqwa), through their local ecumenical organisations, function together to facilitate the transformation of their identity and mission. This empirical study implements a critical theory approach to analyse sources and data used in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is not uncommon to stick to Father António Vieira the label of "messianism" - which has even happened to illustrious "vieirists" - but this is clearly a mistake. To the Coimbra's court of the Holy Office, the Jesuit confessed to being a "millenarian", simply because he believed in the advent of a "new state" of the Church, which he called "the Kingdom of Christ consummated on Earth" and which he identified with the new eon announced by the Old Testament prophets and initiated in Jesus Christ (see The Key of the Prophets). The theme addressed here Vieira's relationship with tradition allows us to understand his deter- mination to give a new answer to a new reality: the possibility of evangelization (and conversion) of the whole world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The involvement of patients and the public in research is now an expectation in research with funders requesting a clear plan of involvement and engagement. In the United Kingdom involvement typically focuses on research prioritisation, design and delivery, in contrast activities that share the results of research or research methods more generally are considered to be engagement. Clinical trials tend to concentrate on involvement activities with less emphasis on engagement. To promote engagement activities in the context of clinical trials we asked people attending the 2022 International Clinical Trials Methodology Conference to share ideas on how we can best engage with patients and the public. Responses were reviewed and 22 themes identified. One suggestion was to create an advent calendar and so these 22 themes plus two from the authors were used as a daily tweet from the 1st to the 24th December 2022. Here we share these ideas and draw comparisons between engagement activities in research and traditions of the Christmas period. The ideas shared are not intended as a definitive list but instead a novel way to start discussions between experts by experience, researchers, health professionals and communities to facilitate co-production of meaningful engagement strategies. Plain English summary: Patient and public involvement and engagement are terms used to describe specific activities that have a variety of goals from information giving through topublic co-production of research. Involvement and engagement are important as they can help reduce waste in research by ensuring that the research is relevant, conducted well and that the results are shared to those that will use them to make decisions about treatments, including patients. In the United Kingdom the term "engagement" usually refers to activities that focus mainly on information giving, for example sharing the results of research or information about how research is done in general. In this commentary we share ideas for engagement activities that were collected from people attending the International Clinical Trials Methodology Conference in 2022. One of the ideas shared was to have an advent calendar and we have used this to draw comparisons between traditions surrounding the Christmas period and engagement of patients and the public. We share 24 different ideas in the form of a printable advent calendar and invite the clinical trials community, including experts by experience, to reflect on these to generate more ideas for meaningful engagement activities so that everyone who will use the results of research has the opportunity to shape, share, and benefit from research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peace-talk is incoherent because we do not have one definition of the word "peace." Everyone has different understandings of this term, and thus we cannot help but selfishly impose our understandings of peace onto someone else's understandings of peace. With the help of Augustine of Hippo, we underscore this issue through an analysis of disordered desire; in addition, with the help of French theorist René Girard and his theory of mimesis (which very much has an Augustinian flavor in terms of its low theological anthropology), we emphasize how humanity cannot help but disorder even the noblest of endeavors such as just peacemaking. Therefore, this essay argues that humanity's peace presents a mimetical trap that needs to be broken from above via a divine disruption that is simultaneously violent and nonviolent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the advent of antiferromagnetic (AF) spintronics, there is a burgeoning interest in AF materials for a wide range of potential and actual applications. Generally, AFs are characterized via the ordering at the Néel temperature (TN), but to have a stable AF configuration, it is necessary that the material has a sufficient level of anisotropy so as to maintain the orientation of the given magnetic state fixed in one direction. Unlike the case for ferromagnets, there are little established data on the anisotropy of AFs and, in particular, its origins, other than it being magneto-crystalline, and those factors which control it. In this perspective article, these factors are reviewed in light of recent and established experimental data. The anisotropy can be found indirectly via the exchange bias phenomenon. This technique is reviewed and, in particular, the implications for the nature of the anisotropy that is measured and its distribution. Finally, a strategy is proposed that would allow for the development of AF materials with controlled anisotropy for future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most controversial issues that had been prevailing since the advent of Islam in the Sub-continent,even now is as debatable as it was,is the question of Simā (Ṣufi Song) and Moseeqī (Music).The views about Simā and Moseeqī had been originated though not directly from the text (Qurān and Ḥadīth),and inferred to Ḥalāl and Ḥarām and this inference is a matter of seriousness.No doubt in it as our history tells us that great saints like Alī Hajverī and Moeen ad-Din Chishtī and his disciples used Simā as tool to preach Islām.Now the question arises whether it is allowed by the Qurānic injunctions or not.If Simā is permissible,the what are the limitations as it is noted that a lot of music instruments are being used in it and the foremost functionality of the musical instruments is to rouse sensuality,and instigation of sensuality is in no way to Islām.This paper presents in the light of the text (Qurān and Ḥadīth),an analytical study about the status of Simā and Moseeqī. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Christian, or liturgical, year sets human lives within God’s story of creation and salvation, sanctifying moments, days, years, and lives. Calendar and hourly time become God’s time as the Christian year encompasses and intermingles past, present, and future. Following the key themes of this encyclopaedia, this entry will provide an overview of the scriptural roots of the Christian year, along with its historical development in communities within a range of traditions, Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. Note that the present diversity of theologies and practices of Christian communities throughout the world makes it impossible for one essay, even focused on only one practice, to comprehensively present all understandings. The diversity of humanity is exhibited in the Christian year through a variety of debates arising from the value that a church or tradition might place on observing various holy days; how the Christian calendar is related to other calendars; whether the gospel and the Christian year itself is considered countercultural, assimilated to colonizers’ calendars, or accommodated to Indigenous calendars; and how much society and environment should affect an understanding of the Christian year. The theological implications of this practice of ‘hallowing our days’ through observing the seasons of the year centred around Jesus (Paschal mystery/Easter and incarnation/Christmas) are a constant reminder of God’s presence. The practice of the Christian year and some interactions with science and the natural world will be considered. Ultimately, the Christian year is an ever-deepening cycle which, alongside or in contrast to the seasons of nature, can grow faith in individuals and communities now and into the future.

With the advent of three-dimensional (3D) printing, there has been an enhanced focus on the creation of models in dental education. These models range all the way from simple teeth for predoctoral educational programmes to more sophisticated models that can be used in both continuing educational settings and in postgraduate/graduate specialty programmes. In this article, the development of a model to teach the decompression technique is described along with a case report that demonstrates the application of this procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with Advent and presents the song "Alle Jahre wieder" as a suitable musical accompaniment. It refers to the religious-philosophical statements of Jean-Luc Nancy and Giorgio Agamben, who consider Advent as a movement of fulfillment in itself. Jean-Luc Nancy considers a painting by Jacopo da Pontormo as a place of presence and emphasizes that fulfillment in Advent lies in the movement itself. Giorgio Agamben examines the messianic time until the return of Christ and argues that it has already begun and reverses the supposed chronology of the return. He emphasizes the importance of the term "parousia" for the messianic event. The article concludes by emphasizing that the coming of the Messiah represents an opening to the unattainable and being open to what has already arrived. [Extracted from the article]

Swedish preschool education is, by law, non-confessional. Yet, it is also an educational context within which most children aged 1–5 encounter traditions that carry Christian connotations. This paper explores how two Swedish preschools maintain a balance between keeping education non-confessional and paying attention to the traditions that are associated with the preparation for and celebration of Christmas – Advent. The data consist of ten videotaped observations from two preschools. The data was thematised with the help of Ninian Smart's dimensions of religious and secular worldviews. This way, we could show that the different traditions the two preschools were engaged in during the four weeks before Christmas contributed to a banal reproduction of a holiday season with roots in Lutheran Christianity. At the same time, the preschools contributed to a (re)production of traditions that evoke a national imaginery. Our results show that Advent in Swedish preschools is characterised as a non-confessional task for the institution. Thus, the principle of non-confessionality lives side by side with a banal national religion. Thereby, the Swedish preschool plays an integral part in the banal reproduction of a Swedishness that includes Lutheran Christianity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of Constantine and his work of reforming the state in many directions are the subject of reflection by various pagan and Christian writers. Certainly, the most significant fact is the adherence to Christianity, which manifests itself clearly in the foundation of Noua Roma. This article examines the judgment of Augustine and that of some writers of the historiographical tradition of the breuiarii up to Orosius. The review shows how the judgment of the various sources produces a very subjective exposition, which obviously favors one's own point of view linked to faith and precise sociopolitical circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "social-political-hierarchical" qualifications have long been identified as the essential features of the Confucian golden rule. This essay challenges this prevailing characterization by revealing the relation and differences between Confucius' original shu 恕 and a series of post-Confucius reformulations in ancient Confucianism. Specifically, the premise of equality, which underlies Confucius' formulation of shu in correlation with ren 仁, rendered shu incompatible with asymmetrical relationships. Besides the advantage of overcoming this limitation by adapting the golden rule structure of shu to specified asymmetrical relationships, the post-Confucius formula, especially "the measuring square" in the Great Learning, was devised to guide one to infer universalizable rules of conduct for various roles in diverse relationships. On this basis, I demonstrate a pivotal shift in the golden rule practice of ancient Confucianism—a shift of focus from its correlation with ren to its conformity with li 禮 as the system of rules of conduct and the principle of "discriminations." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, I discuss the seasonality of marriages, conceptions and first conceptions in early modern communities from the territory of present-day Poland. I looked for the influence of the Catholic liturgical calendar there. The source basis was the data published so far in the literature. The analysis shows that church restrictions forced the faithful to marry in the months immediately before Lent and Advent. This resulted in an increase in post-marital sexual activity during the period when abstinence was recommended. This conclusion weakens the notion that the Catholic Church controlled the daily lives of early modern Polish inhabitants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a critical point of reference, this essay intends to show the problematic nature of the traditional idea of providence. On one hand, the existence of a providence in the world is something difficult to legitimise from a phenomenological point of view. On the other hand, the traditional idea of providence generally ends up justifying existing reality along with its injustices and horrors. Instead, it is a question of holding fast to the Old Testament and New Testament hope in the eschatological advent of a counterfactual world and of recognizing that the adoption of the ancient concept of a Platonic-Stoic matrix based providence was one of the most serious errors of Christian thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author undertakes a descriptive and synthesis and analysis of the novel COVID-19 Pandemic dubbed as the Corona disease or the "Wuhan Virus". Essentially, the author explores six objectives and points to the effects of the pandemic psychologically, health-wise, economically and even socially. Quintessentially, the author contends the untold value of prior planning in disaster preparedness and mitigation, a glaring challenge to all nations across the globe. Thirdly, the need for research as well as integrity and being resolute and forthright in the wake of disasters is being highlighted. The paper also highlights some statistical on the continuous rise and trends of the Covid19 which started in China in November 2019 spreading into all continents and most countries the world over. Towards the end vital lessons have been pointed out and recommendations made on the need for more research, impressing the need for the input of the key players and or stakeholders in response and mitigation of such a pandemic now and in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]