Thursday’s News & Ideas - 4/16/2025

Chicago Theological Seminary stops admitting new students as financial pressure grows*
The Chicago Tribune: Brad Braxton, the school’s president, told the Tribune in a statement Tuesday that the seminary decided to cease admissions while it undergoes a “board-approved strategic planning process” that is focused on ensuring the school is able to continue its mission for “generations to come.”

More young men say religion is ‘very important’ to them, poll finds*
The New York Times: “I wanted something new and something traditional and something that felt holy,” one teenager said.
Religion News Service: Gen Z women are losing their religion

A California forest synagogue experiments with nature-based spirituality
Religion News Service: “There are people who want a Judaism that’s recognizable, and there are other people who want to do something that speaks to their ancestral roots but that also makes them feel alive and connected,” said Rachel Ruach-Golden, a synagogue board member. “We’re in between the tension of those two.”

Trump team ramps up religion in government — and employees are worried*
The New Republic: Federal employees warn that the “vibes are bad” thanks to Donald Trump’s administration increasing the presence of religion in the workplace.

Deliverance for oppressed and oppressor*
The Christian Century: The early Black church understood that the church is not just a place for worship — it is a launching pad for liberation.

The Spark

A Colorado hospital profits from resolving language barriers
Poor interpretation can lead to deadly errors and a higher risk of malpractice lawsuits, NPR says.

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