This chapter discusses the racial Jesus in relationship to the historical Jesus. It begins with several examples of the racial Jesus, allowing in each case advocates of the racial Jesus to express in their own words the theological work done by racializing Jesus. It then considers objections and counter-objections, both of which turn on valorizing the historical Jesus against the racial Jesus, a valorization which itself turns on valorizing the historical Jesus against the Christ of faith. The chapter concludes by arguing that the counter-objections have reasons to “throw away the ladder” on the valorizations but do not, oddly giving new life to the secular history the racial Jesus teaches us to distrust.

Representing ~35% of all primary brain tumors, meningiomas are also the most common benign brain tumors. Meningiomas most commonly present in the third and fourth decade of life and are 3 times more common in women than in men. Approximately 90% of meningiomas arise supratentorially, growing from the dural arachnoidal cap cells. Though they very rarely invade brain tissue, they often grow slowly, can get very large before causing neurological symptoms, and are commonly found incidentally on brain imaging. The most common known risk factor is exposure to ionizing radiation. Radiation-induced meningiomas are more likely to have cellular atypia. As far as genetic risk factors are concerned, the most significant is perhaps neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2). About half of NF2 patients have meningiomas and usually they have multiple meningiomas.

This chapter offers a description of the complex interaction between power and poverty in light of the portrayal of Jesus in the canonical gospels. His message of salvation, example of solidarity with the poor, and presence in the life of the church offer a direct challenge to impersonal systems of societal arrangement that promote injustice. The Gospels provide a striking testimony for and guide to the essential work of solidarity with the poor.

Education continues to primarily focus on educator-directed traditional transactions of pre-determined knowledge and skills not necessarily equally accessible or transformational for all learners (Smith, 2018). In contrast, deeper learning required for transformation requires pedagogies that facilitate contextualised understandings of shared meanings. Optimal transformational learning requires thoughtful development of the self as an educator, deliberate planning of safe learning environments and pedagogical practice that enables critical thinking. A pedagogy of hospitality provides a relational and safe space, but also an intentionally welcoming and critical learning space that holistically nurtures learners. Pohl (1999) identifies that hospitality is not charity but shared humanity as pedagogy; hospitality is a form of justice that facilitates meaningful learning.

Five key outcomes of pedagogy as hospitality are discussed in this chapter: love; formation and transformation; intentional nurture; critical empowerment; and hope and justice.

First termed by Jean-Martin Charcot in 1874, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is the most common motor neuron disease in adults, affecting approximately 1 person per 100,000 people per year. Most cases of ALS arise as a sporadic neurodegenerative disease, though approximately 5% of cases are inherited. Of the inherited forms of ALS, the most common genetic mutation affects the C9orf72 gene. Mutations of genes such as SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) and FUS (fused in sarcoma) have been implicated in the development of inherited juvenile ALS.

Plants without distinct leaves, but the apparent function of leaves replaced by the presence of very numerous broad, flattened rhombic phylloclades (each derived from a much modified expanded and flattened branchlet), all usually of somewhat variable and often irregularly compound shape with angular margins, each phylloclade with multiple conspicuous veins and often glossy-surfaced, especially on all dorsal aspects.

Autoimmune encephalitis (AI) is a relatively newly defined group of noninfectious, immune-mediated inflammatory conditions of the brain parenchyma. First described in the 1960s, AI was originally found to be a paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis due to small cell lung cancer. A decade later research proved that this condition is caused by antibodies directed against either intracellular onconeuronal antigens, for example, anti-Hu or against the neuronal surface antigens, for example, anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Most of the classic paraneoplastic autoimmune encephalitides belong to the former category.

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a clinically variable neurological syndrome caused by compression or distortion of the nerve roots below the spinal cord (cauda equina) prior to exiting the spinal canal. The most common cause of CES is posterior herniation of the intravertebral discs between L1 and L5, though it can also be caused by neoplasm, abscess, hematoma, or other localized swelling in the spinal canal, as well as vertebral fracture or severe spinal stenosis.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is a neurological emergency characterized by thrombosis of the cavernous sinus resulting in pain and multiple cranial neuropathies. There is minimal epidemiological data on CST; however those with facial infections such as sinusitis, dental or periorbital infections, or recent facial or dental procedures are at the highest risk. The most common cause of septic thrombosis is a Staphylococcus aureus infection of the middle face. Non-septic causes of CST include thrombophilic disorders such as factor V Leiden and other heritable thrombophilias, as well as acquired disorders such as antiphospholipid syndrome.

Chapter 2 discusses the common belief that people different from us all look alike and act alike. The outgroup homogeneity effect, as it is called, is rooted in normal categorization processes that become oversimplified. Categorization produces a range of tendencies that contribute to prejudice such as stereotyping, inaccurate attributions, ingroup favoritism, outgroup derogation, dehumanization, even scapegoating and genocide. These phenomena are explained and connected to contemporary events such as anti-Asian hate crimes during the Covid 19 pandemic. Chapter 2 ends with strategies for change that include intergroup contact, creating more complex social identities, and cooperative learning.

Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is a genetic neurocutaneous syndrome caused by either sporadic (most common) or autosomal dominant inheritance of a mutation of the TSC1 (chromosome 9) or TSC2 (chromosome 16) genes. These genes encode for the proteins hamartin and tuberin, respectively, which are negative regulators of the mTOR pathway.

As proclaimed by the churches, Jesus of Nazareth is the key to unlocking the depth and breadth of the Christian faith. Jesus’s relations to God and to the Holy Spirit ground his potential relation to every human being. As a consequence of his identity, to be unveiled in theology, Christ illuminates a whole set of questions at the frontier of the Creed: among others the openness of human nature to God, the relationship between the human and the divine, the paradox of the singular and the universal, the unity of matter and life, the challenge of hope among historical ordeals. Christ offers a new understanding, not only of the core issues of the Christian faith but also of the present moment of each believer and of what is truly definitive facing God.