NEWS STORY
RNS-Tarot-Study: Study: Gen Z doubles down on spirituality, combining tarot and traditional faith
(RNS) — While the interest in tarot and other forms of divination often corresponds to a complete rejection of traditional religion, that is not a given. Many young readers continue to identify with a traditional faith, while looking beyond established structures for spiritual growth. By Heather Greene. 969 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Infrastructure-Churches: Infrastructure bill includes energy efficiency grants for houses of worship
(RNS) — Buried on page 1729 of the trillion-dollar infrastructure bill adopted by the U.S. Senate Tuesday (Aug. 10), is a project titled “Energy efficiency materials pilot program.” It would fund $50 million in grants to nonprofits, including religious congregations, so they can buy new energy efficient heating and cooling systems for their buildings, among other materials. By Yonat Shimron. 600 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Shul-Funding: Jewish and Latino legislators announce funding to renovate century-old synagogue in L.A.’s Eastside
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Legislators from the Latino and Jewish caucuses on Tuesday (Aug. 10) gathered in the Eastside Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights to announce $14.9 million in funding to renovate the century-old Breed Street Shul — a synagogue that’s regarded as the religious and cultural anchor of the Eastside’s early Jewish community. The state budget allocation will help transform the facility into a shared multipurpose space that will honor the Jewish history of Boyle Heights as well as the area’s residents that are now largely Latino. By Alejandra Molina. 700 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Britney-Catholic: Is Britney Spears Catholic? The internet has thoughts
(RNS) — Britney Spears announced “I’m Catholic now,” and there was much virtual rejoicing and scratching of heads, particularly when the post disappeared the next day. A roundup of five of the main theories that internet speculation has landed on. By Renée Roden. 1,200 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Kemsley-Oped: LDS church pushes leaders further, adds welcoming refugees to official handbook
(RNS) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has added a new section to its official handbook for lay leaders, calling on members to support refugees in their local communities. In doing so, the faith’s governing body has enshrined the issue in one of its most influential texts, where it is likely to remain for years to come. By Tamarra Kemsley. 886 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Salkin-Oped: What Shakespeare knew about anti-Zionism
(RNS) — The Bard of Avon understood the terror of the mob. To even bear the same name as one of the conspirators was to condemn Cinna the poet to death. Do you think that it will be that different with the Jews? By Jeffrey Salkin. 550 words. (category: k)