Friday's News & Ideas - 7/14/2023

How do you resurrect an empty church?*
Slate: America’s aging houses of worship face a stark choice: sell, redevelop, or pray for a miracle.

From Christian temperance to D.A.R.E. — the War on Drugs has its roots in white Christian nationalism
Religion Dispatches: Temperance Education and a rising moral panic about narcotics contributed to new antidrug regulations.

We don’t achieve Christian unity by avoiding polarization
Sojourners: When we avoid clarity about justice because it seems “divisive,” we misunderstand the nature of Christian unity.

When signs of trouble appear, Mayor Adams turns to his religious base*
The New York Times: Adams has leaned heavily on the religious segment of his multiethnic, outer Manhattan base for support.

Religious groups march in Malawi before court case on LGBTQ+ rights
The Guardian: Faith leaders say the proceedings, brought by a transgender woman, are an attempt to legitimize “sinful acts.”

The Spark

It’s even hot in Antarctica, where it’s winter
Antarctica isn’t immune to the recent heat baking much of the planet. It could affect the rest of the world, Vox says.

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