Monday’s News & Ideas - 12/15/2025

Father and son gunmen kill at least 15 people in attack on Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach 
The Associated Press: The massacre at one of Australia’s most popular beaches followed a wave of antisemitic attacks that have roiled the country over the past year. It was the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun control laws.

The surprising theology inside today’s Advent calendars 
The Conversation: No matter how non-religious they may appear, the ancient meanings of Advent are still reflected in two characteristics of today’s calendars: a stoking of expectation and a purpose-filled sense of time, writes a scholar studying the origins of Christianity.

DHS threatens Sister Norma Pimentel’s migrant aid with 6-year funding ban 
Religion News Service: “I take very seriously every single dollar entrusted to us,” said Pimentel in a statement responding to the DHS accusations, which included providing migrant services beyond the federal limit. 

Religious leaders say they’re observing a hidden trend among younger Americans* 
The Washington Post: Religious affiliation has been dropping among young people for decades, but examples abound of surging interest on college campuses and in cities like D.C.

‘Yes’ to God but ‘no’ to church: What religious change looks like in Latin America 
Religion Unplugged: A growing share of Latin Americans are abandoning institutional faith, yet research shows that the region’s religious decline shows a surprising difference from patterns elsewhere: personal faith remains strong.

The Spark

Are we in a recession? Maybe professional Santas can tell us.
NPR’s Planet Money explores how the slump in seasonal employment opportunities, including for professional Santas, can paint a picture of the economy right now amidst a lack of official economic statistics. 

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