Friday's News & Ideas - 1/24/2025

Attitudes toward Christian nationalism don’t just boil down to views on race, religion and history − research suggests ‘moral foundations’ play a critical role
The Conversation: White Christians are not the only ones sympathetic to Christian nationalist ideas. Nearly 40% of Black Protestants and 55% of Hispanic Protestants agree with statements such as “being Christian is an important part of being truly American.”

Bishop Budde delivered a truly Christian message*
The Atlantic: Exhortations for mercy are never easy for the powerful to hear.
The Guardian: ‘Contempt is a dangerous way to lead a country’: Here is the sermon that enraged Donald Trump

After Helene, one Asheville church finds a way to step up
Religion News Service: In less than four months, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church has doled out more than $3.5 million in rent support to hundreds of people who have walked through its doors.

Americans are ditching traditional health care for something cheaper — and riskier
Vox: An obscure health insurance alternative is seeing tremendous growth. But there’s a catch.

Why is Israel launching a crackdown in the West Bank after the Gaza ceasefire?
The Associated Press: The violence comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces domestic pressure from his far-right allies after agreeing to the truce and hostage-prisoner exchange with the Hamas militant group.

The Spark

One family in Gaza returned home. But home was gone.
“It took us a few minutes to accept that this pile of rubble was our home,” said Islam Dahliz, whose family was ordered by Israeli forces to evacuate* Rafah in May.

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