For Christian mystic Thomas Merton, the sacred and the profane were continuous: all was alive with divine presence. Stands of redwoods were his cathedral, the sky, birds, and wind were his prayers, and the silence of the forest his lover. This week, we return to an essay by Fred Bahnson, who follows Merton’s 1968 pilgrimage to the American West as he travels to Redwoods Monastery and Christ in the Desert Monastery. Guided by Merton’s contemplation and seeking the same solitude, Fred discovers anew the ways God runs through both land and heart.
Thousands of workers lost their jobs last week — laid off by CEOs anticipating sweeping changes to their businesses made possible by the latest advances in artificial intelligence. What seemed like science fiction not five years ago is fast becoming reality, with AI agents serving as personal assistants, AI coding tools transforming workplaces, and AI “slop” flooding social media. None of this should come as a surprise; the warnings have been coming for years. As a new world looms, we must take steps to safeguard our democracies from the imminent upheaval to economies, politics, and everyday life.
The following selection of Journal of Democracy essays includes contributions from top experts on artificial intelligence explaining how AI could change our democratic futures. Read free for a limited time!
AI and Catastrophic Risk AI with superhuman abilities could emerge within the next few years, and there is currently no guarantee that we will be able to control them. We must act now to protect democracy, human rights, and our very existence. Yoshua Bengio
The Real Dangers of Generative AI Advanced AI faces twin perils: the collapse of democratic control over key state functions or the concentration of political and economic power in the hands of the few. Avoiding these risks will require new ways of governing. Danielle Allen and E. Glen Weyl
The AI Democracy Dilemma A revolution in political participation is underway: Political players and advocacy groups are using AI to draft ballot initiatives, gather signatures, and persuade voters—undermining democratic legitimacy in the process. David Altman
The Danger of Runaway AI Science fiction may soon become reality with the advent of AI systems that can independently pursue their own objectives. Guardrails are needed now to save us from the worst outcomes. Tom Davidson
How AI Threatens Democracy Generative AI can flood the media, internet, and even personal correspondence, sowing confusion for voters and government officials alike. If we fail to act, mounting mistrust will polarize our societies and tear at our institutions. Sarah Kreps and Doug Kriner
AI’s Economic Peril AI will transform work and entire economies. The potential benefits also bring a dire risk of rising inequality and job losses. But the worst outcomes can still be avoided. Stephanie A. Bell and Anton Korinek
The Authoritarian Data Problem AI is destined to become another stage for geopolitical conflict. In this contest, autocracies have the advantage, as they vacuum up valuable data from democracies, while democracies inevitably incorporate data tainted by repression. Eddie Yang and Margaret E. Roberts
Reimagining Democracy for AI Advances in AI are rapidly disrupting the foundations of democracy and the international order. We must reinvent our democratic infrastructure to ensure our ability to govern in a dramatically different technological world. Aviv Ovadya
AI’s Real Dangers for Democracy Artificial intelligence and its effects on democracy are a matter of choice, not fate. The concerns are longer term than the recent spate of worry about “generative” AI would suggest. The democratic conversation about AI has hardly begun. Dean Jackson and Samuel C. Woolley
How Autocrats Weaponize AI — And How to Fight Back Artificial Intelligence has become autocrats’ newest tool for surveilling, targeting, and crushing dissent. But this supercharged technology doesn’t need to favor tyrants. Activists must learn how to harness it in the fight for freedom. Albert Cevallos
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Democracy Now! Mar 16, 2026 Latest Shows Support our work: https://democracynow.org/donate/sm-de… “Mr Nobody Against Putin” won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature on Sunday. Democracy Now! recently spoke with co-director David Borenstein and the subject of the film, the Russian teacher Pavel “Pasha” Talankin, who personally documented Russia’s use of wartime propaganda. “I need for as many people as possible to see what is happening inside of Russian schools,” says Talankin. “Putin is forcing propaganda into their schools, and [the children are] absorbing all of this.” Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET. Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: https://democracynow.org/subscribe
“It is your duty to establish beyond doubt that you are totally unwilling to side with (identify with) anyone’s misperceptions of you, including your own.”
“Don’t surrender your loneliness so quickly. Let it cut more deep. Let it ferment and season you as few human or even divine ingredients can. Something missing in my heart tonight has made my eyes so soft, my voice so tender, my need of God absolutely clear.”
~ Hafiz
Khājeh Shams-od-Dīn Moḥammad Ḥāfeẓ-e Shīrāzī (Persian: خواجه شمسالدین محمد حافظ شیرازی), known by his pen name Hafez (حافظ Ḥāfeẓ lit. ’the memorizer’ or ‘the keeper’; 1325–1390) or Hafiz,[1] also known by his nickname lesān-al-ḡayb (‘the tongue of the unseen’),[2] was a Persianlyric poet[3][4] whose collected works are regarded by many Iranians as one of the highest pinnacles of Persian literature. His works are often found in the homes of Persian speakers, who learn his poems by heart and use them as everyday proverbs and sayings. His life and poems have become the subjects of much analysis, commentary, and interpretation, influencing post-14th century Persian writing more than any other Persian author.[5][6] (Wikipedia.org)
MentorShow Started streaming 14 minutes ago The Path to Inner Safety – March 10 – 15, 2026 A free, live online event with the world’s leading trauma experts Gabor Maté, Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine & Frank Anderson 5 powerful evenings to understand how trauma lives in the body… and why your nervous system may still be stuck in survival mode. Get Instant Access to Gabor Maté + Bessel van der Kolk’s Trauma Program – Plus 12 Months of Coaching ???? http://mtor.sh/safe Tuesday, March 10 at 7 PM (New York time) Why Trauma Lives in the Body Gabor Maté ???? What trauma really is – and why it’s not what you think ???? Why you can’t simply “move on” ???? How trauma disconnects you from your body ???? Live body-based exercise to reconnect and create inner safety ???? Live Q&A Wednesday, March 11 at 7 PM (New York time) The Freeze Response: The Missing Piece in Trauma Peter Levine ???? Why humans stay stuck while animals don’t ???? How incomplete survival responses keep tension trapped ???? Why going slowly is the safest path forward ???? Live guided somatic practice ???? Live Q&A Thursday, March 12 at 7 PM (New York time) How to Calm Your Body’s Stress Response Bessel van der Kolk ???? How trauma reshapes the brain and nervous system ???? Why talk therapy alone often isn’t enough ???? What real body-based change looks like ???? Live practice to shift how your body holds the past ???? Live Q&A Friday, March 13 at 7 PM (New York time) Special Session: Exclusive lessons From Gabor Maté & Bessel van der Kolk ???? What trauma really is ???? How it still shapes your daily life ???? Live tapping practice to calm your nervous system ???? Live Q&A Sunday, March 15 at 2 PM (New York time) Trauma, Dissociation & the Body Frank Anderson ???? Why trauma creates shutdown and dissociation ???? The parts of you that take over under stress ???? Why your symptoms are actually protectors ???? Live guided exercise ???? Live Q&A For the first time, these leading experts come together around one essential question: How do you help the body finally feel safe again? If your system keeps pulling you back into survival mode… this event may change how you understand yourself, and what’s possible next.
is a famous line spoken by Satan in John Milton’s epic poem *Paradise Lost* (Book I/II). It signifies a preference for autonomy and power in misery over subservience in paradise, highlighting themes of pride, free will, and the psychological shaping of reality. Instagram +2
Key Aspects of the Quote:
Context: After being cast out of Heaven for rebellion, Satan rallies his followers, declaring that their minds can transform their new surroundings, making them masters of their fate.
Meaning: The quote represents the ultimate expression of defiance, arrogance, and refusal to submit to authority, even in a desolate place.
Interpretation: While some interpret it as a brave declaration of independence and self-determination, it is also viewed as a manifestation of self-deceptive pride or superbia, as Satan is trapped in misery.
Psychological Power: The quote emphasizes that attitude dictates experience, as Satan notes the mind can make a Heaven of Hell or a Hell of Heaven. Jonathan Rogers • The Habit +6
The phrase is widely used to symbolize choosing freedom and individual autonomy over a comfortable, compliant life. Facebook
