Religious and racial violence continues to erupt around the world. In Nigeria, Islamic militants have killed or kidnapped hundreds of men, women and children and torched homes of people of different faiths. In Syria and Iraq, Shiites and Sunni Moslems are killing and beheading each other. In Canada, Australia and East Africa, Moslem fanatics have mounted attacks on non-believers.

“Research suggests that generosity is hardwired into our brains,” according to new research from Simon Fraser University in Canada (Wall Street Journal, December 24, 2014; NPR, December 24, 2014).

What could Clash of the Titans—a mindless “popcorn flick” from 2010—possibly have in common with director Ridley Scott’s recent Bible-themed epic, Exodus: Gods and Kings? Something much more fundamental and revealing than you might expect. 

“The battered ruble plunged to a record low against the dollar again Tuesday [80 Rub to $1 USD], as investors grew convinced that the Russian central bank’s surprise move overnight to jack up interest rates to 17% wouldn’t be enough to alleviate the pressure on the currency from falling oil prices and western sanctions” (Wall Street Journal, December 16, 2014). Just a year ago, the ruble was trading at about 33 rubles to one U.S.

An Islamic extremist took 17 hostages in a café in central Sydney on Monday, December 16.  After a 17-hour siege, at 2:00 a.m., he began shooting some of the hostages.  New South Wales (NSW) police had been well-positioned outside and stormed the café. Two of the people inside were killed and the gunman was shot dead by the police (AP, December 15, 2014).