Thursday’s News & Ideas - 12/11/2025
- Concentrations of religions
- Doug Wilson’s influence
- Study of obituaries
- Lobster Nativity scene
- Zoning laws & Islam
- Jollibee’s expansion
Many religions are heavily concentrated in a few countries
Pew Research Center: Half of the world’s population lives in just seven countries. But some of the world’s religious groups are even more concentrated than that.
Christ Church at 50: How Doug Wilson pushed Christian nationalism to the center
Religion News Service: The pastor, celebrating 50 years in his pulpit, has never had more influence than he does under the current presidential administration.
What 38 million obituaries reveal about how Americans define a ‘life well lived’
The Conversation: Obituaries preserve what families most want remembered about the people they cherish most. Across time, they also reveal the values each era chose to honor.
Lobster Jesus: Sacrilege or the most New England Nativity ever?
Religion News Service: Inspired by Cape Cod cuisine and a beloved holiday movie, the Lobster Nativity portrays the characters of the Christmas story as crustaceans.
Zoning Islam out
ARC: In suburban Long Island, a seven-year battle over parking and congestion masked a fight over who belongs in Bethpage — and how far towns can go to keep Muslim houses of worship from growing.
The Spark
Can Jollibee beat American fast food at its own game?
A fast-growing Filipino chain* is serving burgers and chicken that seem like typical American fare — until you taste them, The Atlantic says.
*access is limited for nonsubscribers
