Wednesday's News & Ideas - 11/20/2024

Tony Campolo, sociologist and famed Red Letter Christian, has died 
Religion News Service: Known as a powerful evangelist and social justice preacher, Campolo had long advocated that Christian faith can transform the world — and people’s everyday lives.

Texas board advances plan to allow Bible material in elementary school lessons
Associated Press: Texas’ education board on Tuesday advanced a new Bible-infused curriculum that would be optional for schools to incorporate in kindergarten through fifth grades, one of the latest Republican-led efforts in the U.S. to incorporate more religious teaching into classrooms.

‘Bonhoeffer’ bears little resemblance to reality* 
Christianity Today: The new biopic from Angel Studios twists the theologian’s life and thought to make a political point.

Religious colleges that lean into their identity make gains* 
Inside Higher Ed: Stricter Christian colleges seem to be experiencing enrollment increases as religious families become more wary of secular institutions.

Is there anything Catholic about the so-called Catholic vote? 
National Catholic Reporter: In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s decisive presidential win, two sobering trends about politics and religion are becoming clear: Religion doesn't seem to motivate Catholic voters, nor do views about abortion, an issue Catholic Church leaders have made a priority for decades.

The Spark

This seaside town will power thousands of homes with waves
Wave energy has been untapped so far, but an experiment* could unlock its potential in the United States, says The Washington Post.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers