Tuesday's News & Ideas - 8/6/2019

Christian leaders react to mass shootings: We can’t keep going on like this
Relevant: Christian leaders, activists, pastors, teachers and writers took to Twitter to respond to the mass shootings over the weekend. Many expressed their sorrow. Many offered prayers. Many called for legislative action.
The Atlantic: What conservative pastors didn’t say after El Paso
Christianity Today: I’m a shooting survivor. If you’re going to pray for us, here’s how.
LA Times: As his daughter lay in a pool of blood in an El Paso Walmart, a pastor held fast to his faith

What is white nationalism? And what does it have to do with religion?
Deseret News: It's relatively common to think America is a Christian nation. But, in some cases, this belief is infused with racism and bigotry and becomes a reason to harm members of racial or religious minority groups, said Andrew Whitehead, the co-author of "Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States."

Senators oppose Trump refugee cuts on religious freedom grounds
Religion News Service: A bipartisan group of lawmakers has sent a letter to Trump administration officials calling on them not to reduce the refugee cap to zero, arguing that doing so could call into question a promise to assist persecuted religious minorities abroad.

Americans say civics is a must and religion a maybe in schools
Education Week: Americans overwhelmingly believe civics should be taught in school. A surprising majority, 77 percent, also say students should have the option to take a comparative religion class and 58 percent said they should be able to study the Bible, according to a new survey.

A first at a century-old seminary: A black woman takes charge
New York Times: LaKeesha Walrond is the first African American woman to lead the seminary, which has played an influential role in New York City’s religious community and specializes in putting theological education to work in urban settings.

The Spark

From everyteen to annoying: Are today's young readers turning on 'The Catcher in the Rye'?
Holden Caulfield, once the universal everyteen, does not speak to this generation in the way he’s spoken to young people in the past. "Catcher" is not only no longer beloved, it has become something even more tragic: uncool. 

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