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Regarding the Image of God
This post will be a bit of a strange one. I wrote most of the following piece about six months ago, as certain governmental policies and actions were starting to roll out - and while reflecting upon certain ongoing atrocities. While these reflections revolve mostly around those claiming and practicing the Christian faith (and our failures to do so rightly) I do believe that they might be provide valuable insight - or at least something to think about - for folks of all perspectives who are willing to read them. So without further ado, here are a few of my recent reflections regarding the biblical concept of the 'image of God.'
By Gabriel Huizenga13 days ago in The Swamp
Wisteria Woo RIP. Content Warning.
Wisteria Woo Silver~Rhodesian Ridgeback Cane Corso mix~ 7.19.15-3.2.26 My service dog, Wisteria, had been slowing down, having mysterious health symptoms like severe hives and unexplained injury. She went to the vet last month, but unfortunately, not all tests detect all problems. When we returned to the vet yesterday, upon much more concerning symptoms suddenly appearing, we learned she had a very large mass (10inx10in) likely the very aggressive hemangiosarcoma, and that we would only be buying a few months if we went through with treatment.
By K.B. Silver 26 days ago in Petlife
Paul and John's 47-Words Short Story Unofficial Challenge
UPDATE - Republished to update the list of entries, with the 40 we've had so far. Completely smashed last unofficial challenge which recieved 31 entries. And there is still time. If you have yet to enter and fancy winning a bit of money or just challenging yourself or both or just making two old geezers job harder - please enter!
By Paul Stewartabout 5 hours ago in Writers
How machines can learn from human behaviour
In order to understand where we are and where we are going, we need to understand where we were first. - Susan Fourtane Could a human behaviour simulator be embedded into a robot or online avatar to the point that it’s hard to distinguish between a real person or artificial intelligence? Scientists have been upping the stakes in this “Turing test” for years, to the point that human-mimicking programmes are ready to answer tricky questions, assist people with online shopping or be companions.
By Susan Fourtané 12 days ago in Futurism
📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 03/19/2026
Our “Raise Your Voice Threads” are hosted most alternating Thursdays at 12PM ET to offer creators more avenues to uncover exceptional stories on Vocal. As we are continuously searching for fresh creators and inspiring stories, this thread provides an opportunity to exchange and discuss the stories that have moved and motivated us on Vocal.
By Raise Your Voice by Vocal11 days ago in Resources
Turquoise Clouds in a Green Sky
“I always remember the first time I saw the green sky and the turquoise clouds skating across it.” These words had stayed with Alice Barrett for two years. She’d been six- years-old and snuggled next to her great-grandmother, known to nearly all the family as Granny Rose, on a large, rather uncomfortable armchair. Granny Rose had been telling her a story, at least that’s what Alice believed, but it was a strange memory, blurry apart from those few words.
By Matthew Batham13 days ago in Fiction
Life will find a way
One cocoon twitches; my screaming must have disturbed it. It’s followed by a sound like the shaking of a cobra’s tail. A dry rattle sends a shiver down my spine. The rest of the cocoons respond the same way, as if communicating with one another; the cave fills with rattling. The glow becomes stronger as they vibrate and bathes the cave floor in an eerie blue light.
By N J Delmas12 days ago in Chapters
The Rivers of Babylon
The iconic disco group Boney M from the 1970s left an indelible mark on the music world with their infectious beats and unforgettable melodies. Formed in West Germany, the group's vibrant sound, blending Caribbean rhythms with European pop sensibilities, quickly catapulted them to international stardom.
By Rasma Raisters17 days ago in Beat
Everyone Is Acting Normally Challenge Winners
In the Everyone Is Acting Normally challenge, something is clearly wrong, but no one stops to name it. Across the shortlist, that wrongness appears as resurrections, surveillance, disappearance, and denial, each treated as part of daily life.
By Vocal Curation Team12 days ago in Resources
Harbinger of Despair
Who was he but just a man? To feel the weight of the world on his shoulders, he was no Atlas. Yet his bowed stance and tender neck suggested otherwise. It came to him in a dream: the absent stoking of an everlasting flame. A gnarled finger pointed towards an inevitable end, a sign that couldn't be ignorantly shaded; recurrence made sure of it. He didn't remember how long it had been going on; time didn't matter at this point. He just knew it was long enough to be petrified to fall asleep.
By James U. Rizzi13 days ago in Fiction
