Thursday’s News & Ideas - 6/5/2025

What the fastest-growing Christian group reveals about America* 
The Atlantic: Instead of killing off faith, modernity has supercharged some of its most dramatic manifestations, writes a religion historian.

Does it matter if Jesus was crucified with nails or ropes?* 
The Christian Century: A recent Christianity Today article — and subsequent apology — resurrects debates about the inerrancy of Scripture.

Inside a historic church painted with murals that reflect searing social commentary 
The Associated Press: The restorations completed in May give new life to the murals — which were painted by a Croatian American immigrant in bursts of creative energy that led to marathon-long sessions. The paintings capture stark social inequities alongside traditional religious themes.

100 years ago, the Supreme Court made a landmark ruling on parents’ rights in education — today, another case raises new questions 
The Conversation: Mahmoud v. Taylor raises questions not only about religious freedom, but also about educators’ ability to determine curricula, and public education in a pluralistic society.

Many of Dead Sea scrolls may be older than thought, experts say 
The Guardian: Researchers enlisted help of AI along with radiocarbon dating to produce new insights into ancient texts.

The Spark

Is the decline of reading poisoning our politics?
Theorists say the digital age’s* modes of thought and discourse increasingly resemble those of pre-literate oral cultures. And that America’s reversion to “orality” underlies much of today’s political dysfunction, writes Vox.

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