A record high percentage of U.S. adults, 53%, now say moderate drinking is bad for their health, up from 28% in 2015. The uptick in doubt about alcohol’s benefits is largely driven by young adults — the age group that is most likely to believe drinking “one or two drinks a day” can cause health hazards — but older adults are also now increasingly likely to think moderate drinking carries risks. (Sanders, AP News)
Read MoreWhen Canada’s Parliament in 2016 legalized the practice of euthanasia—Medical Assistance in Dying, or MAID, as it’s formally called—it launched an open-ended medical experiment. One day, administering a lethal injection to a patient was against the law; the next, it was as legitimate as a tonsillectomy, but often with less of a wait. MAID now accounts for about one in 20 deaths in Canada—more than Alzheimer’s and diabetes combined—surpassing countries where assisted dying has been legal for far longer. (Calabro, The Atlantic)
Read MoreHuman composting is part of trend in the funeral industry toward more sustainable and environmentally-friendly burials. So-called green funerals include human composting, as well as other practices like forgoing chemical embalming and choosing green burial materials like biodegradable caskets. (Trethan, USA Today)
Read MoreAs AI threatens creative careers, writers, actors and musicians are pivoting to pursue master’s degrees in psychology and social work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of mental-health counselors is projected to grow by 18% by 2033. (Shaw, The Wall Street Journal)
Read More“A lot’s gone into that, to be honest,” Fields said. “I would say experiences, for sure. But also, I think my relationship with God. I don’t play for anybody’s approval. You guys are all going to have your opinion and I’m never going to take any of it personal. Like I said, it doesn’t matter. Y’all can have an opinion, y’all could say this and that, but at the end of the day, our lives aren’t going to change.” (Waszak, AP News)
Read MoreThe Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), one of the largest evangelism ministries in the world, has established a legal defense fund to help cover the legal expenses of persecuted Christians in Europe. Referred to as a “war chest” by BGEA President Rev. Franklin Graham, this new legal defense acknowledges the distinct nature of gospel resistance in Western countries compared to elsewhere. (Persecution.org)
Read More