From February 2024 to February 2025, there was a sharp rise in the share of U.S. adults who say religion is gaining influence in American life. While this remains a minority view, it is increasingly held by adults across several demographic groups – with gains of at least 10 percentage points among Democrats and Republicans, adults in every age category and in most large religious groups. (Rotolo, Pew Research Center)
Read MoreBible sales have surged by more than a third following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, data shows. Around 2.4 million copies of the Bible were sold in September, a 36 per cent increase from the same month in 2024, according to book tracker Circana BookScan. (Henderson, The Telegraph)
Read MoreThe Catholic Church and Church of England, divided for centuries over issues that now include the ordination of female priests, will take a historic step on the path to unity next week when Britain’s King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV pray together in the Sistine Chapel, officials said Friday. (Winfield, AP News)
Read MoreWeeks after the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Sarah Mullally as the leader of the Anglican Communion, conservative Anglican prelates in Africa have rejected the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury and have proclaimed their own network of conservative churches the official voice of Anglicanism. (Nzwili, Religion News Service)
Read MoreMillennial and GenZ influencers, some paid by telehealth companies, evangelize antidepressants on TikTok and Instagram using such hashtags as #livelaughlexapro, #lexaprogirly, #lexaho and #zoloftgang, recasting the medications as pop-culture touchstones. (McKay et al., The Wall Street Journal)
Read MoreIn 1972, HBO launched with a bold pitch: producing television without ads or censorship. Over the next five decades, it reshaped the industry—introducing premium programming, supporting creator-driven storytelling, and setting the stage for today’s subscription-based streaming model. Here’s how HBO became one of the most influential networks in TV history. (1440)
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