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A religious philosophy and sub-genre within black metal. It’s suggested that Christianity contradicts black metal's dark nature and the individualistic and misanthropic ideals of many bands.

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b. The Black Church 

The term Black Church refers to the body of Christian congregations and denominations in the United States that minister predominantly to African-Americans, as well as their collective traditions and members.

These black churches created communities and worship practices that were culturally distinct from other churches, including forms of Christian worship that derived from African spiritual traditions. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

c. Heaven

Often described as a "highest place", the holiest place, a Paradise, in contrast to hell or the Underworld or the "low places" and universally or conditionally accessible by earthly beings according to various standards of divinity, goodness, piety, faith, or other virtues or right beliefs or simply divine will.

A considerable portion of transhumanists believe that they may eventually become immortal by creating non-biological functional copies of their brains, thereby leaving their "biological shell". These copies may then "live eternally" in a version of digital "heaven" or paradise. This is loosely what the anime series Serial Experiments Lain is about.

Walt Disney's 1953 Peter Pan suggests Neverland is located in space (“second star to the right, and straight on till morning.”). The term “Neverland” is often used as a metaphor for eternal childhood (and childishness), as well as immortality and escapism.

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 read from the Book of Genesis as they orbited the Moon.

Kingdom Hearts is one of the major entities in the Kingdom Hearts universe. It is the heart of all worlds and the source of ultimate power and wisdom. Characteristics that are shared with a traditional “heaven”.

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d. The Jesus and Mary Chain

 In 1986, A.R. Kane released their debut single "When You're Sad" on One Little Indian. The duo was initially grouped with other "noise pop" acts, and were hailed in the press as "the black Jesus and Mary Chain", despite claiming to have never heard the work of that band.

Just Like Honey is a song by the Scottish alternative rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain - Maya the Honey Bee makes me think of the lyrics to this song which goes:

“Listen to the girl

As she takes on half the world

Moving up and so alive

In her honey dripping beehive

Beehive

It's good, so good, it's so good

So good”

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e. Violence vs. Non-violence?

A fashion model wearing military garments. The camouflage pattern symbolizes practical use to protect soldiers from enemies, while the act of dressing is a passive aesthetic expression.

Malcolm X - minister and activist - was at first critical of non-violence as a form of protest. After leaving the Nation of Islam, he began to position himself to work more closely with other Civil Rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. However that was short-lived as he was assassinated and could not continue his mission.

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f. “Yamato nadeshiko”

 a Japanese term meaning the "personification of an idealized Japanese woman", or "the epitome of pure, feminine beauty"; poised, decorous, kind, gentle, graceful, humble, patient, virtuous, respectful, benevolent, honest, charitable, faithful. It made me draw parallels to the Seven Heavenly Virtues.

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g. Waves

Waves are a hairstyle for curly hair in which the curls are brushed and/or combed and flattened out, creating a ripple-like pattern. In the early 21st century, as many African-American men sought to style their hair with texture-altering products, "pomade hair moisturizer" waves became a popular hairstyle. Having waves was a big component in my youth identity.

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