Tuesday's News & Ideas - 11/12/2024

Justin Welby to quit as archbishop of Canterbury over handling of abuse scandal
The Guardian: The head of Church of England had faced pressure since a damning report on the cover-up of John Smyth’s abuse was released.

Vatican, Microsoft create AI-generated St. Peter’s Basilica to allow virtual visits, log damage
The Associated Press: The Vatican and Microsoft unveiled a digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica that uses artificial intelligence to explore one of the world’s most important monument’s while helping the Holy See manage visitor flows and identify conservation problems.

Israelis and Arabs battle for influence in Trump’s second term*
Religion Unplugged: Some believe Trump, given his unpredictable and sometimes populist approach to foreign policy, could present a new vision for peace that positions him as an American leader capable of engaging both Israel and Arab nations on more equal terms.

I found God, became a pastor and then lost my faith. Here’s what I believe in now.
HuffPost: “I could not understand why the God who supposedly had numbered the hairs on our heads would not show up for these women,” Rebecca Gummere writes.

Heritage Foundation’s ‘Esther’ addendum to Project 2025 isn’t really about antisemitism
Religion News Service: Project Esther’s concern for antisemitism is actually a smokescreen for an attack on a variety of progressive causes.

The Spark

Our mistake was to think we lived in a better country than we do
Americans will be stuck cleaning up after MAGA’s destructive streak because men like this never clean up after themselves, Rebecca Solnit writes.

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