The Church of the Divine Luminescence proudly opened its doors last Friday in downtown. In a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by over 500 residents, the new Church’s pastor Gloria Hermann gave a grand speech proclaiming its commitment to bringing light and life to every member of the San Francisco community.
“We will bring illumination to all in our tender care”
-Gloria Hermann, March 2024
Gloria continued, making a firm promise to reach out and support our unhoused community, a gesture that has stirred up some discussion.
But what do you all think of these developments?
I’d love to hear from you all in our Q&A below. This is James Gurn of the Independent Gazzete, signing off.
“Unsettling are the days in which everyone is an expert.”
― Criss Jami
Nowadays you can't go a day without some phony prophet trying to peddle their wares to you.
Driven by the increased interest in the supernatural, charlatans from palm readers to televangelists are everywhere. And while the vast majority of witches, psychics, magicians, hypnotists, cures, potions, faith healers, and clairvoyants are complete fakes, they do make a living.
As the saying goes, "it's easier for an actor to make it in alternative medicine than Hollywood."
Most people scoff at these clearly-phony supernatural services, yet those same people often buy into at least one scam.
The most dangerous charlatans are the self-styled monster hunters who carry a mall-ninja arsenal and guns with silver bullets. Most have never encountered anything supernatural and do absolutely nothing besides burn some sage and patrol the area for a night or two. Even so, those who are superstitious, fearful, or desperate enough will hire them to solve the problems they simply don't understand. In some cases with disastrous results.
For Contractors, charlatans are red herrings and obstacles. Clumsy fakes that conjure a smokescreen of misinformation and escalate the situations they're in.