For years, allegations of his distinctly un-Zenlike lifestyle have fueled salacious rumors and drawn government scrutiny. Now Shaolin’s announcement on Sunday that its abbot is again under investigation for embezzlement and sexual misconduct has spurred a wave of cynicism across China, a country that had celebrated capitalistic derring-do… but is now less tolerant of materialistic excess.(Wong, The Wall Street Journal)
Read MoreFor the first time, multiple Christian musicians are charting on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time — and staying there for weeks. Has the mainstream music industry found Jesus Christ? (Rose, NPR)
Read MoreWhile some puritans might sniff at the idea that religion needs to be made cool to have modern appeal, a group of priests including Father Mazzai are using social media to make a powerful case to the contrary. (McKenna, The Telegraph)
Read MoreRather than acting as an impartial guide to our explorations of demonology figures, the chatbot played spiritual guru. When one colleague said that they (like me) felt nervous about partaking in a blood offering, ChatGPT offered wisdom: “That’s actually a healthy sign, because it shows you’re not approaching this lightly,” which is “exactly how any serious spiritual practice should be approached.” (Shroff ,The Atlantic)
Read MoreFaith leaders across the U.S. are hoping a bipartisan bill, recently introduced in the U.S. Senate and House, might finally bring resolution to an immigration issue that has been hindering their service to their communities for more than two years. (Dell’Orto, AP News)
Read MoreThree years after the Supreme Court opened the door to state abortion bans, most U.S. adults say abortion should be legal — views that look similar to before the landmark ruling. The new findings… show that about two-thirds of U.S. adults think abortion should be legal in all or most cases. About half believe abortion should be available in their state if someone does not want to be pregnant for any reason. (Mulvihill & Thomson-DeVaux, AP News)
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