News & Ideas

Monday’s News & Ideas - 6/9/2025

  • Jennifer Lyell dies
  • Rowan Williams Q&A
  • Eid in Gaza
  • Selfishness & Christianity
  • SCOTUS on religious freedom
  • Midlife, no crisis

As Southern Baptists gather, death of former SBC publishing exec looms over abuse debate
Religion News Service: Jennifer Lyell was once one of the highest-ranking women in the Southern Baptist Convention, but her life fell apart after she reported alleged abuse by a former SBC seminary professor.

The New Atheists ‘attack a God I don’t believe in, either’: A Q&A with Rowan Williams*
The New York Times: Williams talked about how, for him, the Christian faith is “the perspective that enriches.”

Gaza marks the start of Eid with outdoor prayers in the rubble and food growing ever scarcer
The Associated Press: With much of Gaza in rubble, men, women and children were forced to hold the traditional Eid al-Adha prayers in the open air and with food supplies dwindling, families were having to make do with what they could scrape together for the three-day feast.

Selfishness is not a virtue*
The New York Times: A senator’s fake apology was something different — and worse — than simple trolling. It exemplified the contortions of American Christianity in the Trump era.

Americans are divided over religious freedom. The Supreme Court? Not as much
Deseret News: On Thursday, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling in a religion case — again.

The Spark

‘Do you have a family?’: Midlife with no kids, ageing parents — and no crisis
In my 40s, I found myself with a life that didn’t look like it was “supposed” to. What was I doing? On trips to South Korea with my mother, an answer began to emerge, writes E Tammy Kim at The Guardian.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers



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