Wednesday's News & Ideas - 1/26/2022

How the Capitol attacks helped spread Christian nationalism in the extreme right
Religion News Service: For many in the right-wing extremist fringe, Christian nationalism is becoming a shared language.

Schoolkids are falling victim to disinformation and conspiracy fantasies
Scientific American: Although children are prime targets, educators cannot figure out how best to teach them to separate fact from fiction.

Monks in New Mexico desert dedicated to hospitality reflect on two years without guests*
The Washington Post: “Guests are part of who we are,” said the monastery’s guestmaster. “We can only go so long without guests, and not just for financial reasons. For identity reasons. Not having visitors would betray the whole Benedictine charism.”

Sharbat Gula’s experience exemplifies the ‘white savior’ lens through which most Americans view Afghanistan
Religion Dispatches: Sharbat Gula’s then-ten-year-old face is also one of the most enduring images of Afghanistan for the West.

Ex-AME Zion Church leaders charged with $14M fraud
Associated Press: A former bishop and lay leader of a historically African American church have been charged with defrauding California congregations by mortgaging their properties in order to obtain $14 million in loans.

The Spark

Lawmakers say trans athlete bans are about protecting women’s sports so why are these three states targeting trans boys and men?
Luc Esquivel has played golf since sixth grade, but Tennnessee state law does not allow the transgender 14-year-old freshman to try out to play with other boys at his high school in a Knoxville suburb, Sports Illustrated says.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers