Aesthetics of Persuasion: Global Christianity and Pentecostalism's Sensational Forms

May combine two claims.

Pentecostal religiosity is not merely geared to a transcendental force nor purely materialistic; it concerns physical bodies, things, and images held to be imbued with divine or demonic forces.

“This brief sketch should suffice to pinpoint that Pentecostal religiosity is not merely geared to a transcendental, basically unknowable force.Nor is it purely materialistic and interested in outward matters.There is much concern with the stuff of the physical-bodies, things, images-which is, however, held to be imbued with and operated by either divine or demonic forces.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The Holy Spirit is an experiential presence that invokes feelings.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not just inner contemplative spirituality but embodying divine power; only those filled with the Holy Spirit are held to be not vulnerable to evil spirits and empowered to lead a happy, healthy, and prosperous life.

“To be filled with the Holy Spirit is a question of not just inner, contemplative spirituality but embodying divine power: only those filled with the Holy Spirit are held to be not vulnerable to evil spirits and empowered to lead an overall happy, healthy, and prosperous life.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The Holy Spirit is an experiential presence that invokes feelings.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In Pentecostal services, after prayers become louder, many participants start speaking in tongues, which is taken as a sign that the Holy Spirit is manifest.

“After some time, the prayers become louder and louder, and many start speaking in tongues.This is taken as a sign that the Holy Spirit is manifest.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Many Pentecostal pastors have written about how to receive and keep the Holy Spirit through continued and intense prayer.

“Many Pentecostal pastors have written about how to receive and keep the Holy Spirit through continued and intense prayer.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Advertisements for writings by Chris Oyakhilome spotlight how the Holy Spirit is perceived as a power to unlock, a way to make faith work, and a teammate that can impact one's world.

“Advertisements for writings by the famous Nigerian Pentecostal pastor Chris Oyakhilome, who runs a huge church called Christ Embassy and a global media empire, spotlight how the Holy Spirit is perceived: Unlock the Power of the Holy Spirit within You! Don't Get Stuck in the Rut; Learn How to Make Your Faith Work!You and the Holy Spirit Can Make an Unbeatable Team That Will Impact Your World!42”

• cites [42] 42. Chris Oyakhilome, The Seven Spirits of God: Divine Secrets to the Miraculous (Chelmsford: LoveWorld Publications, 2006). 43 Marshall, Political Spiritualities, 128-29.Not matched

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May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

In the wake of the 2008 elections in Ghana, there was considerable resonance between Pentecostal/charismatic churches defining the nation as a site of spiritual war and the rhetorical strategies of competing political parties, which absorbed some Pentecostal discourse, talking about politics in terms of spiritual forces and celebrating vigilance and peacefulness as prime characteristics of ideally

“For instance, in the wake of the 2008 elections in Ghana, there was considerable resonance between the way in which Pentecostal/charismatic churches defined the nation as a site of”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The need for each and every believer to feel and be touched by the Holy Spirit was stressed in the service.

“Clearly, the need for each and every believer to feel and be touched by the Holy Spirit was stressed.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Virtual services are offered by numerous media programs on radio and television, in audiovisual materials, and on the Web.

“Virtual services are offered by numerous media programs on radio and television, in audiovisual materials, and on the Web.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

During the service, the pastor preached about the problem of lacking the feeling of the Holy Spirit, which he likened to the experience of a lack of erotic sensation in marriage, asking whether the feeling is still there.

“During the service I attended, the pastor preached about the problem of lacking the feeling of the Holy Spirit, which he likened-somewhat tongue in cheek-to the experience of a lack of (erotic) sensation in marriage:”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Ghanaian president John Atta Mills stresses that he has been elected by God and says that he wishes Ghana to become one big prayer camp.

“Ghanaian president John Atta Mills stresses that he has been elected by God and says that he wishes Ghana to become one big prayer camp.55”

• cites [55]Not matched

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May combine two claims.

One of the most salient features of Pentecostal/charismatic churches is their sensational appeal, often operating via music and powerful oratory that enable born-again Christians to sense the Holy Spirit in their bodies.

“One of the most salient features of Pentecostal/charismatic churches is their sensational appeal; they often operate via music and powerful oratory, through which born-again Christians are enabled to sense the presence of the Holy Spirit with and in their bodies, wherever they are, and to act on such feelings.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The Holy Spirit is an experiential presence that invokes feelings.

May combine two claims.

The a priori forms of sense experience are not given as in Kant's sensus communis but are subject to the power of distribution, which implies a process of enabling and disabling sense impressions and tuning and streamlining the senses.

“The a priori forms are not given, as in Kant's notion of the sensus communis but are subject to the power of distribution, which implies a process of en-and disabling sense impressions and a tuning and streamlining of the senses.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

Christianity is a world religion by virtue of its foundational premise to make disciples of all nations.

“By virtue of its foundational premise to”

• cites [1] 1. I would like to stress that this essay does not aspire to give an overview on recent work on Pentecostalism and globalization. See also André Droogers, "Globalisation and Pentecostal Success," in Between Babel and Pentecost: Trans- national Pentecostalism in Latin America and Africa, ed.Not matched

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

The notion of global Christianity spotlights a new, distinct mode through which Christianity becomes manifest in the world.

“This notion spotlights a new, distinct mode through which Christianity becomes manifest in the world, which calls for special attention.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Pentecostalism provides the contemporary archetype of Christianity as a community without an institution, but a community of a new type proper to diffuse, individualized, and nonisomorphic forms of connectedness in the globalized world.

“Pentecostalism provides, as Ruth Marshall writes, the”

• cites [2] 2. A. Corten and R. Marshall-Fratani (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2001), 41-61; and Joel Robbins, "The Global- ization of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity," Annual Review of Anthropology 33 (2004): 117-43.Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Pentecostal services, with their emphasis on praise and worship to call the Holy Spirit through powerful songs, offer a sensational form that seeks to involve believers so that they sense God's presence in a seemingly immediate manner and are amazed by His power.

“Pentecostal services, with their emphasis on praise and worship so as to call the Holy Spirit through powerful songs, offer a sensational form that seeks to involve believers in such a way that they sense the presence of God in a seemingly immediate manner and are amazed by His power.”

May combine two claims.

Pentecostalism is a salvation religion and an ethic of brotherhood, yet it employs aesthetic practices traditionally associated with magical efficacy and uses aesthetic media as vehicles of emotional propaganda.

“It is obviously a salvation religion, patently and powerfully an ethic of brotherhood, and so might be expected to veer towards the antiart position.On the other hand, Weber's characterization of the elements of”

• cites [19] 19. H. H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills (1948; London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1970), 341. 13 Ibid. 14 Ibid.; my emphasis.Not matched

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May combine two claims.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful, portable, and concrete embodied presence, and there is little concern about the problem of a transcendence that eschews human understanding and action.

“The Holy Spirit is a powerful, portable, and concrete embodied presence, and there seems to be little concern about the problem of a transcendence that eschews human understanding and action (as we encountered regarding Barth).”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Rancière grants that aesthetics may be mobilized for demagogic, irrational mass politics, but insists it would be mistaken to reduce aesthetics to this negative use.

“While Rancière grants that aesthetics may be mobilized for demagogic, irrational mass politics (what Walter Benjamin calls the”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The desire for a direct and portable link with the power of God via the Holy Spirit is what made, and still makes, many people migrate to Pentecostal/charismatic churches and become born-again.

“The desire for such a direct and portable link with the power of God via the Holy Spirit is what made, and still makes, many people migrate to Pentecostal/charismatic churches and to become born-again.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

The marked sensational dimension of Pentecostalism calls for a critical revisit of Weber's distinction between magical religiosity and rational salvation religions.

“My central argument here is that the marked sensational dimension of Pentecostalism calls us to revisit critically Weber's distinction between magical religiosity, which attributes power to religious acts, substances, and rituals, and rational”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

For Rancière, aesthetics is not opposed to but is an inalienable part of politics.

“for Rancière aesthetics is not opposed to but is rather an inalienable part of politics.”

• cites [46] 46. Beth Hinderliter et al., eds., Communities of Sense: Rethinking Aesthetics and Politics (Dur- ham, NC: Duke University Press, 2009), 1.Not matched

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Aesthetics may also be a site of potentiality and creation, located on the side of the invention of sensible forms and material structures for a life to come, and thus a resource for a critique of dominant politics.

“Aesthetics may also be a site of potentiality and creation, located”

• cites [48] 48. Eagleton, Ideology of the Aesthetic, 13.Not matched

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• cites [49] 49. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, "Saints, Ancestors, and Charismatics in African Politics: Media and Religion in Ghana's 2008 Democratic Elections" (paper presented at Sensa- tions: Religious Mediations and the Formation of Identities, Accra, Ghana, August 15-18, 2009).Not matched

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May combine two claims.

A transposable message and portable practices are vital to Pentecostalism's globalization project.

“A”

• cites [3] 3. Thomas J. Csordas, Transnational Transcendence: Essays on Religion and Globalization (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2009), 4-5.Not matched

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Martin's characterization of Pentecostalism as paradoxical stops short of a more fundamental critique of Weber's model, leaving it more or less intact.

“For this reason, Martin's characterization of Pentecostalism as paradoxical stops short of a more fundamental critique of Weber's model, which she leaves more or less intact.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Although all born-again believers are in principle able and entitled to embody the Holy Spirit, charismatic pastors are prime channels for divine power.

“Though in principle all born-again believers are able and entitled to embody the Holy Spirit, charismatic pastors are prime channels for divine power.”

May combine two claims.

Each faithful believer needs to be active for the Holy Spirit to manifest itself in his or her life, so as to reach a point of reversal when he or she feels seized by it.

“On the contrary, each and every faithful believer needs to be active in order for the Holy Spirit to manifest itself in his or her life, so as to reach a point of reversal when he or she feels”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

A fundamental critique of Weber's model is indispensable for reconceptualizing aesthetics as intrinsic to modern religion, including Pentecostalism and Protestantism.

“As this model still underpins a great deal of work on modern religion, such a fundamental critique is of key importance.It forms an indispensable starting point for a reconceptualization of aesthetics as intrinsic to modern religion, including not only Pentecostalism but also Protestantism.”

May combine two claims.

The Protestant lens privileges a view of Protestantism as a rational, disenchanting religion that transcends the body, senses, and outward forms, and fails to account for crucial aspects of Protestantism.

“In addition, the lens itself is problematic, privileging a particular view of Protestantism as a rational, disenchanting religion that transcends the body, the senses, and outward religious forms.It fails to account for some crucial aspects of Protestantism.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Distribution implies a political process of governing the very possibility of sensation.

“The point is that distribution implies a political process of governing the very possibility of sensation.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Pentecostal/charismatic churches are central to the globalization of Christianity in our time.

“As scholars have noted, Pentecostal/charismatic churches are central to the globalization of Christianity in our time”

May combine two claims.

The personal link with the Holy Spirit offers individual mobility, yet it also emphasizes feelings of belonging to a larger, even global born-again community of believers.

“The personal link with the Holy Spirit offers individual mobility, yet it also emphasizes feelings of belonging to a larger, even global born-again community of believers.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Aesthetics of persuasion is intrinsic to sensational forms, whose power convinces religious believers of the truthfulness of the connection between them and God or the transcendental.

“Thus, aesthetics of persuasion is intrinsic to sensational forms, whose power convinces religious believers of the truthfulness of the connection between them and God or the transcendental.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Rhetoric may be expanded toward broader modes of expression than oratory alone, including all kinds of sensational forms that seek to persuade.

“Rhetoric may well be expanded toward broader modes of expression than oratory alone, including all kinds of sensational forms that seek to persuade.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Since humans are sentient beings, aesthetics is political and constitutes specific orders of visibility and sense through which the political division into assigned roles and defined parts manifests itself.

“Since humans are sentient beings, aesthetics is political and thus constitutes”

• cites [50] 50. Marshall, Political Spiritualities, ch. 6.Not matched

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Aesthetics is central to the formation of personal and collective modes of being and belonging.

“Aesthetics should not be depoliticized or dismissed as inferior to rational thinking and forms of mobilization, but it should be taken as central to the formation of personal and collective modes of being and belonging.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The consent demanded from participants to recognize the pastor's power points to an aesthetics of persuasion geared toward making the presence of the Holy Spirit felt.

“The consent demanded from the participants to recognize the pastor's power points to an aesthetics of persuasion that is geared toward making the presence of the Holy Spirit felt.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

As Ruth Marshall argues with regard to Nigeria, this political theology is intrinsically unstable because the central importance attributed to personal spiritual experience tends to work against the creation of stable forms of sovereignty and community.

“However, as Ruth Marshall argues with regard to Nigeria, this political theology is intrinsically unstable because the central importance attributed to personal spiritual experience tends to work against the creation of stable forms of sovereignty and community.56”

• cites MarshallNot matched

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• cites [56]Not matched

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May combine two claims.

This born-again community is of a new kind, unlike ordered congregational structures of historical mission churches, yet nonetheless binds believers via shared sensational forms that generate feelings of effervescence.

“Certainly this is a community of a new kind, unlike the ordered congregational structures that characterize historical mission churches, yet nonetheless binding believers via shared sensational forms that generatereminiscent of Émile Durkheim's analysis of the effects of participation in religious rituals-feelings of effervescence.60”

• cites DurkheimNot matched

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• cites [60]Not matched

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Rancière and others inspired by his work barely address religion.

“Even though Rancière and others inspired by his work barely address religion, the connection of aesthetics and politics speaks to my project of theorizing contemporary Pentecostalism.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Aesthetics and materiality are a fundamental part of Christianity and of religion in general.

“as scholars we need to transcend such claims in favor of a more balanced view that acknowledges aesthetics-and materiality-as being a fundamental part of Christianity and of religion in general.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Most people addressed by sensational forms are already constituted as particular religious subjects with certain desires and doubts.

“Most of the people addressed by sensational forms are already constituted as particular religious subjects with certain desires and doubts.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Global Christianity requires attention to aesthetics, understood in the broad sense.

“global Christianity requires attention to aesthetics, understood in the broad sense.”

• cites WeberNot matched

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

The study of Protestantism itself suffers by not questioning Protestant self-descriptions that tend to stress an iconoclastic, antiaesthetic stance.

“More broadly, the study of Protestantism itself suffers by not questioning Protestant self-descriptions that tend to stress an iconoclastic, antiaesthetic stance.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

This example shows that the aesthetics of persuasion is an inalienable part of religion in general and is part of outreaching religions such as Pentecostalism, with its globalizing agenda.

“This example shows that the aesthetics of persuasion is an inalienable part of religion in general and is part of outreaching religions such as Pentecostalism, with its globalizing agenda.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The Protestant lens often used to analyze Pentecostalism is blind to the importance of sensation.

“My concern is to recapture aesthetics for the study of Pentecostalism in order to develop an alternative to the Protestant lens, which is often used to analyze Pentecostalism but which is blind to the importance of sensation.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Religion is about the link between humans and the divine.

“Religion, then, is about the link between humans and the divine.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Persuasion does not imply a free subject yet to be persuaded; an aesthetics of persuasion itself works within religious structures of repetition.

“It should be noted that persuasion does not imply a”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Christianity is a world religion by virtue of its foundational premise, grounded in the experience of Pentecost, which marked the replacement of Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

“Christianity is a world religion by virtue of its foundational premise, grounded in the experience of Pentecost, which marked the replacement of Jesus by the Holy Spirit.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

There cannot be an antiaesthetic religion, notwithstanding assertions made from an internal religious perspective.

“This is deeply problematic, as there cannot be an antiaesthetic religion, notwithstanding assertions made from an internal religious perspective.”

May combine two claims.

Far from being confined to a mere personal, primary encounter, religious aesthetics authorizes a particular distribution of the sensible that opens up a space for religious experience, yet excludes or anesthetizes other possibilities.

“Far from being confined to a mere personal, primary encounter, religious aesthetics thus authorizes a particular distribution of the sensible that opens up a space for religious experience, yet excludes-or even anesthetizes-other possibilities.53”

• cites [53] 53. Barth quoted in Viladesau, Theological Aesthetics, 27.Not matched

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Aesthetics is part of lived religion on the level of everyday experiences, offering sensational forms that repeatedly persuade people of the truth and reality of their sensations.

“Aesthetics is part of”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

The importance of diverse sensational forms is all the more obvious in the study of Pentecostalism, with its rich material culture and experiential modes of worship.

“The importance of diverse sensational forms is all the more obvious in the study of Pentecostalism, with its rich material culture and experiential modes of worship (being filled with the Holy Spirit).”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Persuasion is based on classical views of rhetoric, in which it is analyzed as relational and as implying the coexistence of content and emotions, with style bringing together the what and the how.

“Persuasion is based on classical views of rhetoric, in which it is analyzed as relational (as rhetoric is not just speaking but implies a linkage between speaker and listeners) and as implying the coexistence of content and emotions, with style bringing together the what and the how.58”

• cites [58]Not matched

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Rancière's ideas remove aesthetics and the senses from the depoliticized isolation in which they were placed by Enlightenment thinkers and spotlight the role of senses and sensibilities in organizing aesthetic formations or communities of sense.

“Rancière's ideas are important here, because they remove aesthetics and the senses from the depoliticized isolation in which they were placed by Enlightenment thinkers and they spotlight the role of senses and sensibilities in organizing what I call aesthetic formations or Beth Hinderliter's”

• cites [51] 51. Mattijs van de Port, "Visualizing the Sacred. Video Technology, 'Televisual' Style and the Religious Imagination in Bahian Candomblé," American Ethnologist 33.3 (2006): 444-62. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

As the Holy Spirit does not enter and permanently stay in a person, Pentecostalism teaches a set of religious disciplines such as Bible study, extensive fasting, and intense individual and collective prayer in so-called prayer cells so that believers can become strong in the spirit.

“As the Holy Spirit does not enter and permanently stay in a person, Pentecostalism teaches a set of religious disciplines such as Bible study, extensive fasting, and intense individual and collective prayer in so-called prayer cells so that believers can become”

• cites [41] 41. Morgan, Visual Piety. 41 Marshall, Political Spiritualities, 210.Not matched

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The Lighthouse Chapel building, reminiscent of the grandeur of Catholic cathedrals, is a sensational form with its own aesthetics of persuasion.

“Reminiscent of the grandeur of Catholic cathedrals, the building is a sensational form with its own aesthetics of persuasion.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

In order for the link between humans and the divine to be experienced as genuine, sensational forms must be persuasive.

“In order for that link to be experienced as genuine, sensational forms must be persuasive.”

May combine two claims.

Even though the authoritative index for the presence of the Holy Spirit lies in personal sensation, it would be wrong to regard Pentecostalism as purely individualistic.

“Even though the authoritative index for the presence of the Holy Spirit lies in personal sensation, it would be wrong to regard Pentecostalism as purely individualistic.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Going beyond presenting pure knowledge alone, rhetoric implies the effective use of particular styles that appeal to the senses and invoke emotions, thus doing the work of persuasion.

“Going beyond presenting pure knowledge alone, rhetoric implies the effective use of particular styles that appeal to the senses and invoke emotions, thus doing the work of persuasion.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Attending a church service is just one way in which born-again Christians devote time to praise and worship.

“Of course, attending a church service is just one way in which born-again Christians devote time to praise and worship.”

May combine two claims.

The senses themselves are subject to modulation and tuning in the context of politico-religious regimes, yielding a particular experience of the world that involves horizontal links between people on the level of community, as well as vertical links to some higher force.

“Thus, the senses themselves are subject to modulation and tuning in the context of politico-religious regimes, yielding a particular experience of the world that involves horizontal links between people on the level of community, as well as vertical links to some higher force.52”

• cites [52] 52. Limitations of space prevent me from delving deeper into Aristotelian rhetoric, Aristotle, Art of Rhetoric, Loeb Classical Library No. 193, trans. G. H. Freese (London: Heinemann, 1926).Not matched

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