Thursday's News & Ideas - 10/14/2021
- US among most divided countries
- Menlo Church investigation
- Teen Challenge organization
- Rubem Alves’ altars
- Chicago activist dies
- Tough time to grow up
Americans see stronger societal conflicts than people in other advanced economies
Pew Research: The United States stands out among 17 advanced economies as one of the most conflicted when it comes to questions of social unity.
Menlo Church investigation finds no direct evidence or disclosures of sexual abuse
Religion News Service: A long-expected report found no evidence of abuse at a San Francisco megachurch but did fault leaders for their lack of transparency.
The shadow penal system for struggling kids*
The New Yorker: The Christian organization Teen Challenge, made up of more than a thousand centers, claims to reform troubled teens. But is its discipline more like abuse?
Rubem Alves builds altars of word and song*
Christian Century: The bold visions of the grandfather of liberation theology
Chicago historian, activist and cultural icon Timuel Black dies at 102
WBEZ: Black strategized with Martin Luther King Jr., challenged the Democratic Party machine and fought to desegregate housing and public schools.
The Spark
It’s a scary time to be growing up. Teens and parents are bonding over that.
Racism, climate change and political volatility have made both generations anxious. It has also got them talking,* The Washington Post says.
*access is limited for nonsubscribers
