Wednesday’s News & Ideas - 8/19/2026
- Churches becoming partisan
- Increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric
- Nero’s Bridge visible
- Humanist in congress
- Irish baptisms fall
- Utopia in science fiction
The church is disappearing from the middle*
The Christian Century: Religious identity in the US now follows partisan affiliation, says demographer Ryan Burge. But congregations could still be places where that sorting gets undone.
From ‘terror threat’ to ‘civilizational threat,’ top Republicans escalate anti-Muslim rhetoric
Religion News Service: The avalanche directed at El-Sayed added to a wave of blatant anti-Muslim sentiment in mainstream politics that experts say is unprecedented, with politicians openly decrying the faith in new ways.
Nero’s Bridge emerges from Tiber River as Rome faces water crisis
The Associated Press: The remains of an ancient bridge have emerged in Rome’s Tiber River, near St. Peter’s Basilica, as weeks with virtually no rain caused water levels to plunge.
The only humanist in Congress on Christian nationalism, privilege and protecting democracy
Religion News Service: The fight against Christian nationalism needs Christians, too, the California congressman argues in his new book.
Irish baptisms fall by 30 percent over ten years
Crux: A briefing note from the Iona Institute, a Christian advocacy and research body, says falling births and the rise of secularism are the two driving causes of the decline, with the drop in birth rates accounting for approximately 60 percent of the decrease.
The Spark
Adventures in utopia
Where can science fiction take us? The Dial asks.
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