Monday's News & Ideas - 7/12/2021

NDAs kept these Christians silent. Now they’re speaking out against them.
Christianity Today: A wave of activists across countries and denominations is calling for the end to non-disclosure and confidentiality clauses.

The Christian right is in decline, and it’s taking America with it*
The New York Times: The evangelicals who thought they were about to take over America were destined for disappointment.

Descendants of enslaved people join dig on former Jesuit plantation
Religion News Service: Vickie White Nelson, 49, has deep roots in southern Maryland. Her ancestor, Regis Gough, was enslaved there on a plantation owned by Jesuits.

There are 11,073 Muslims in federal prisons but just 13 chaplains to minister to them
NPR: Muslims, the third-largest faith group in federal prisons, are significantly underrepresented among the chaplaincy.

Guardian journalist helped me see a way out, ex-cult member recalls
The Guardian: Former Children of God member says simple question put to her by Walter Schwarz was life-changing.

The Spark

“Cat person” and me
“A viral story* drew specific details from my own life,” Alexis Nowicki writes at Slate. “I’ve spent the years since it published wondering: How did the author know?”

*access is limited for nonsubscribers