India is in the throes of Shivaji fever. Across the country, hundreds of statues of the king — usually on horseback, brandishing a sword — have begun studding the broader landscape, popping up in the country’s port cities and along its disputed borders with China and Pakistan. (Das & Raj, The New York Times)
Read MoreFor many of the pastors in the room, and some other Christians, there’s only one possible explanation for extraterrestrial beings: They are not neutral visitors from other planets or dimensions, but demonic entities. (Graham, The New York Times)
Read MoreA new Pew Research Center survey finds that two-thirds of U.S. adults who regularly attend religious services say they have heard their clergy speak about at least one political or social issue in the past few months. Of the seven topics we asked about, abortion, Israel and homosexuality were among the most commonly cited. (Alper, Pew Research)
Read MoreOn trips to Spain this month and France in September, Leo will find thousands of young people… in these traditionally Catholic but now staunchly secular countries, where historic churches are abundant and Mass attendance is sparse. (Dell’Orto, AP News)
Read MoreInternet culture is showing up in a big way in theaters, as low-budget horror films “Backrooms” and “Obsession” led this weekend’s box office and beat out big franchise films like “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.” (Masunaga, Los Angeles Times)
Read MoreThe Thunder is the only NBA team to hold a public, ecumenical invocation before the singing of the national anthem and player introductions — a longstanding tradition that continues to confound basketball fans who live outside of OKC. (Esensten, Religion News Service)
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