Society & Culture

“The U.S. Supreme Court has turned away a challenge to New York state’s vaccine mandate for health care workers — a mandate that provides no exceptions for religious objectors. The vote was 6-3.” - NPR

“For U.S. adults who experienced loneliness at least once within the past week, more than 40% of that group said the feelings of loneliness ranged from intense to unbearable.” - CPost

“Many continue to turn to Scripture more frequently now than before the COVID-19 pandemic began last year.” - RNS

“…among New Testament Greek scholars, there is no controversy here, which is quite telling, since they have devoted decades of their lives to studying the language. How is it that people who cannot read a word of Greek know better?” - Michael Brown

“The Supreme Court of Louisiana announced Tuesday that it will hear a case on whether criminal charges should remain against controversial Pastor Tony Spell for violating Gov. John Bel Edwards’ order against gatherings of more than 50 people during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.” - CPost

“She is also a vocal opponent of sexual abuse in the church, most notably in the Southern Baptist Convention and other evangelical circles. Last month, she made headlines for supporting Liberty University students who reported sexual abuse.” - RNS

“majorities of almost every religious group believe there are no valid religious reasons to refuse a COVID-19 vaccine, including Hispanic Catholics (68%), other Christians (68%), Jewish Americans (67%), Hispanic Protestants (64%), white Catholics (62%), … Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (60%), Black Protestants (59%), white mainline Protestants (56%) and other Protestants of color (51%).” -

“A new study from Lifeway Research finds close to 3 in 4 Americans believe Jesus was born in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. Even more say Jesus is the son of God the Father, but less than half believe Jesus existed prior to being born on that first Christmas.” - CToday

“The U.S. government labeled China’s treatment of the Uighurs as a ‘genocide’ during the final days of the Trump administration, a designation that has been upheld by the Biden administration.” - CPost