TOK: Faith
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‘World’s most powerful rocket’ set for lift-off
Are we about to witness a giant leap or a silly stunt? Today SpaceX will launch a huge rocket which could pave the way for future Mars missions. But some people do not believe the hype.
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Church and chutney: Christmas fit for a Queen
Should we be more like the Queen at Christmas? Despite her opulent palace and extravagant decorations, the Queen’s Christmas Day is modest and traditional with no place for expensive gifts.
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America’s secret UFO research unit revealed
Just how wacky is it to believe in UFOs? The US government has spent millions investigating sightings. Now previously secret footage reveals a dramatic encounter with possible aliens.
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The ancient city that could spark a modern war
Is history a force for good? Donald Trump has officially recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The decision breaks with 50 years of US foreign policy, and could have huge consequences.
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World cricket booms as England face Aussies
Is cricket the greatest sport in the world? England are taking on Australia in the first Ashes Test match. And as the pros do battle, the game flourishes in all corners of the globe.
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How religion is winning the fight with atheism
Is atheism in danger? In Britain and America more people than ever are shunning the church. But as religion booms in other regions, some think that atheism does not have a bright future.
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Police hunt terror links of New York attacker
Should we describe the attacker as a lone wolf? Eight people were killed when a truck ploughed down a cycle path in New York. It is the deadliest terrorist attack on the city since 9/11.
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Fright night revels spread across the globe
Is Halloween good for society? The ghoulish industry is worth billions of dollars. And as more countries around the world embrace the festival of horrors, it is expected to get even bigger.
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Reformation still divisive, 500 years on
Was the Reformation a mistake? Forget Halloween — tomorrow marks 500 years since one of the biggest events in history: Martin Luther triggering the split between Catholics and Protestants.
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‘No smoking gun’ in new JFK death files
Why are we still debating who killed John F. Kennedy? Today, over half a century on, the government’s last secret files on the assassination are being released. But they may not change much.
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Philip Pullman: ‘human nature demands meaning’
Is it possible to be spiritual but not religious? Philip Pullman thinks so. After a 17 year wait, yesterday he finally published the prequel to the celebrated His Dark...
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Monstrous hurricane rakes through Florida
In the face of nature’s awesome destructive power is it any surprise that so many people believe it could be a portent of the complete destruction of the world as foretold in the Bible?
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‘Beginning of the end’ for Western religion
Should we care that organised religion is dying out in Western societies? A survey published earlier this week revealed that levels of religious belief in Britain are at an all-time-low.
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After IS: a new fight to unite Iraq
Iraq’s Islamic State nightmare is slowly drawing to its close. But defeating the militants will still leave a society mired in complex tensions. Can Iraq ever become a normal nation again?
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Trump changes mind on troops in Afghanistan
Donald Trump has outlined his much-delayed strategy for the future of America’s longest war. His decision to boost troop numbers goes against his personal philosophy. Is it the right move?