Wednesday's News & Ideas - 4/26/2023

New study suggests thinking about God can make people more generous to outsiders
Religion News Service: The study was a collaboration among researchers looking into how religion affects human behavior. Some thought religion might make people generous to just those who share their faith. Others thought the generosity could extend to people from other groups.

Two Mississippi UMC clergy face expulsion for officiating nonbinary wedding
Baptist News Global: Two United Methodist clergywomen face expulsion from ordained ministry for officiating the wedding of a nonbinary couple.

Rainn Wilson of ‘The Office’ wants a spiritual revolution
Sojourners: I don’t know what shocked me more: The fact that actor Rainn Wilson — best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on the hit TV show “The Office” — had written a book about religion and spirituality or that I was able to interview him.

Pilot who offered flights to women for medical care fired from seminary job
The Guardian: Greg Williams offered transportation for women seeking out-of-state care after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision last year.

At these exhibitions, death is a lively subject*
The New York Times: Museums are showing art from across the centuries that tackles core questions, through religious and secular lenses, about what happens when we die.

The Spark

How Harry Belafonte transformed American music
The late artist and activist* showed how popular songs could be both the soundtrack to and a tool of the struggle for freedom, says The Atlantic.

*access is limited for nonsubscribers