Thursday's News & Ideas - 9/23/2021

Should America’s churches enforce vaccine mandates?
Deseret News: For some houses of worship, mask mandates aren’t enough. Across the country, churches and synagogues are requiring clergy, staff and, in some cases, congregants to provide proof of vaccination.

A psalm of waiting as the pandemic continues*
Christian Century: All plans feel like grass withering in the sun these days.

Mormon Church to require masks in temple to limit COVID-19 spread
Associated Press: In Utah, where the church is based, a summer surge of the virus among unvaccinated residents has continued to grow while vaccination rates have slightly increased.

Pew study: Little change in India’s religious make-up in 70 years
BBC: All religious groups in India have shown major declines in fertility rates, a study from Pew Research Center has found. As a result there have been only “modest changes” in the religious make-up of the people since 1951.
Pew Research: Religious composition of India

‘King of the World’ podcast examines good and bad of Muslim American life after 9/11
Religion News Service: The show is aimed at Muslims who were in their early 20s and late teens in 2001 and suddenly found their Islamic identity thrust upon them by the attention paid to Muslims after the attacks.

The Spark

40 years ago, Aston Martin gave up plans to build the world's fastest car. Now the car's ready to try again.
The Bulldog,* a long, low, wide, wedge of a thing that Aston Martin said could manage nearly 240 mph has been restored, Business Insider says.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers