Zyn, a brand of smokeless, spit-free nicotine pouches, has found its way into the bloodstream of my generation. NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield popped one in during a game. Tucker Carlson gushed about them on Theo Von’s podcast. (Simon, Christianity Today)
Read MoreThe I.R.S. said on Monday that churches and other houses of worship can endorse political candidates to their congregations, carving out an exemption in a decades-old ban on political activity by tax-exempt nonprofits. (Fahrenthold, The New York Times)
Read MoreThe Scopes trial marked one of the first highly publicized battles in the U.S. between traditionalist and modernist values surrounding science, religion and education — a conflict that continues to this day. The trial left a lasting impression on these debates, according to Adam Laats, a professor of education and history at the State University of New York at Binghamton. (Neuman, NPR)
Read MoreDespite its history of bipartisan support and long success — PEPFAR has been credited with saving 26 million lives around the world — the program’s future is uncertain. The White House Office of Management and Budget, led by Russ Vought, is seeking to cut $400 million in funds already approved for the current fiscal year, through a process known as rescission. (Smietana, Religion News Service)
Read MoreCamp Mystic, the 99-year-old Christian summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River, has for years given girls a place to be themselves, former campers say. Now, the popular all-girls camp set among limestone hills 80 miles northwest of San Antonio is the site of an unfolding tragedy. (Flahive, TPR)
Read MoreTibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Wednesday said the centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist institution will continue after his death, ending years of speculation that started when he indicated that he might be the last person to hold the role. (Saaliq, Religion News Service)
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